TREASURY

Alcohol-related Deaths (Humberside)

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in respect of how many deaths within the Humberside police area alcohol was found to be the primary cause in each of the past five years.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Ms Shona McIsaac, dated 18 January 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary question asking for how many deaths within Humberside police area, alcohol was found to be a primary cause in each of the last five years. (208364)
	The latest year for which figures are available is 2003. The attached table shows the numbers of deaths among residents of the Humberside police area where the underlying cause of death indicated a condition directly related to alcohol use in the years 1999 to 2003.
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) definition of alcohol-related deaths only includes those causes regarded as being most directly due to alcohol consumption. Apart from deaths due to accidental poisoning with alcohol, this definition excludes external causes of death, such as road traffic deaths and other accidents, and alcohol-related suicides and homicides. Estimates of the annual total number of deaths in which alcohol has played a role can therefore vary widely depending on the criteria used. The definition used by ONS allows for consistent comparisons over time for those deaths where a clear association with alcohol consumption can generally be assumed.
	
		Alcohol-related deaths(1) for Humberside police area (which comprises the four unitary authorities of Kingston upon Hull, City of, East Riding of Yorkshire, North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire)(2),1999 to 2003(3)
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1999 79 
			 2000 73 
			 2001 75 
			 2002 80 
			 2003 108 
		
	
	(1) For the years 1999–2000 the cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9). The codes used by ONS to define alcohol-related deaths are listed below:
	291—Alcoholic psychoses
	303—Alcohol dependence syndrome
	305.0—Non-dependent abuse of alcohol
	425.5—Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
	571—Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis
	E860—Accidental poisoning by alcohol
	For the years 2001–03 the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) was used. To maintain comparability with earlier years the following codes:
	F10—Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol
	142.6—Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
	K70—Alcoholic liver disease
	K73—Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified
	K74—Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver
	X45—Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol
	The selection of codes to define alcohol-related deaths is described in: Baker A and Rooney C (2003). Recent trends in alcohol-related mortality, and the impact of ICD-10 on the monitoring of these deaths in England and Wales. "Health Statistics Quarterly" 17, pp 5–14.
	(2) Usual residents of these areas.
	(3) Deaths occurring in each calendar year.

Child Trust Fund

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will extend to older children the advantages of saving up to £1,200 a year tax free, which is available to younger children under the Child Trust Fund.

John Healey: The Child Trust Fund goes live on 6 April 2005 and the Government have already backdated eligibility to September 2002. Older children can benefit from tax-free saving too. The market offers a wide range of savings and investment accounts designed especially for children from National Savings and Investment products to Friendly Societies, banks and building societies. Every child has a personal tax allowance of £4,745 a year and parents are taxed on their child's account only when the gift produces more than £100 gross income per year, per parent. The Child Trust Fund offers new opportunities and new incentives that never existed before. In conjunction with other saving products offered by the market it will help to encourage saving for all children. The Government keeps all saving incentives under review.

Departmental Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the European Union directives and regulations relating to his Department that have been implemented in each of the last two years, specifying (a) the title and purpose of each, (b) the cost to public funds of each and (c) the cost to businesses of each.

Stephen Timms: The Treasury plays a leading role in the UK's EU policy on financial services, tax and certain aspects of social security provision.
	Information on directives and regulations in the field of financial services can be found in the document "The EU Financial Services Action Plan: Delivering the FSAP in the UK", published by HM Treasury in conjunction with the Financial Services Authority and the Bank of England in May 2004. The Financial Services Action Plan (FSAP) set out a programme of legislative and other action in the area of financial services. The above document sets out the purpose of FSAP and related measures, with a timetable for their implementation, and is available via the Treasury's public website.
	Over the last two years, the Treasury has led on the implementation of a number of tax directives; of which the principal ones have been:
	The implementation of Directive 2003/93 removed VAT from the scope of the Mutual Assistance Directive (77/799) and introduced a separate regulation for the exchange of information on VAT by replacing Regulation 218/92 with the VAT Administrative Co-operation Regulation (1798/2003).
	The Energy Products Directive 2003/96 updated and replaced 98/81 and 92/82. The updates related to new energy products such as biodiesel being incorporated into duty suspension arrangements. Those parts of the EPD not previously implemented were implemented by The Biofuels and other fuel substitutes (Payment of Excise Duty etc.) Regulations 2004 and the Excise Warehousing (Energy Products) Regulations 2004.
	Directive 2003/92 amends the sixth VAT Directive (DIR 77/388), 7 October 2003—changing the place of supply of gas and electricity so that supplies to taxable dealers take place (and are therefore taxed) where the dealer is established, and supplies to others take place where the gas or electricity is used and consumed.
	Directive 2002/38 amends the sixth VAT Directive (DIR 77/388), 15 May 2002 (implemented on 1 July 2003)—changing the place of supply of electronically supplied services and broadcasting services, provided by non-EU businesses, so that supplies to taxable customers take place (and are therefore taxed) where the customer is established, and supplies to others take place where the broadcasting services are used and consumed or in the case of electronically supplied services, where the customer resides.
	Directive 2003/49 is concerned with a common system of taxation applicable to interest and royalty payments made between associated companies of different member states. The purpose is to allow for the flow of interest and royalty payments between companies defined in the directive situated in different member states without taxation in the country in which the payment arose.
	Directive 2003/93/EC amends Directive 77/799/EEC concerning mutual assistance by the competent authorities of the member states in the field of direct and indirect taxation. The purpose is to strengthen co-operation between tax administrations in member states. (This is linked to Council Regulation EC 1798/2003 on cooperation in the field of VAT.)
	Directive 2003/48/EC relates to taxation of savings income in the form of interest payments. The purpose is to combat tax evasion by individuals on cross-border savings income. Under the directive, information will be collected automatically about the payment of savings income to residents in certain other countries and exchanged with tax authorities in those countries. During a transitional period, until they implement automatic exchange of information, three member states—Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg—will instead apply a withholding tax on cross-border interest payments made to individuals. Council Decision 2004/587/EC set the date of application of Directive 2003/48/EC as 1 July 2005.
	Directive 2004/56/EC amending Directive 77/799/EEC has regard to mutual assistance by the competent authorities of the member states in the field of direct taxation, certain customs duties and taxation of insurance premiums. The purpose is to improve, expand and modernise the original rules.
	Directive 2004/66/EC amended Directive 2003/48/EC concerning taxation of savings income in the form of interest payments. The purpose is to allow for the accession of the new member states.
	2004/76 amending Directive 2003/49/EC concerning a common system of taxation applicable to interest and royalty payments made between associated companies of different member states. The purpose is to allow for the accession of the new member states.
	EC regulations are, in general, directly applicable in the member states, without the need for further incorporation into national law. However, some regulations require UK measures to make them workable and enforceable. Some regulations enact small or technical amendments. Since 17 April 2002, HM Treasury has implemented:
	Regulation 792/2002 amending Regulation No. 218/92, 15 May 2002 (implemented on 1 July 2003), concerning the provision of a special scheme for non-EU businesses, making supplies of electronically supplied services, enabling VAT to be accounted for electronically in all member states.
	Council Regulation (EC) 859/2003 of 14 May 2003 extending the provisions of Regulation (EEC) 1408/71 and Regulation (EEC) 574/72 to cover nationals of third countries who are not already covered by the provisions solely on the grounds of their nationality. These regulations remove barriers to free movement of workers within the Community and provide for the co-ordination of member states' social security systems.
	We do not hold information on the costs to public funds of implementation. regulatory impact assessments (RIAs) are produced for all proposals, including European legislation, likely to impose costs on business, charities or voluntary organisations. Copies of these are placed in the Libraries of the House, and on the Treasury's public website. In some cases, new directives and regulations may be deregulatory measures that impose no costs, or even reduce costs for business.

European Constitution

John Cryer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues regarding their expenditure on matters relating to the constitutional treaty for the European Union.

John Healey: Departmental expenditure on matters relating to the constitutional treaty for the European Union would be agreed as normal through Treasury approval of departmental estimates. Rules on the conduct of referendums, including on referendum expenses, are laid out in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.

Fairshare Scheme

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to identify alternative funding for the Fairshare scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Estelle Morris: I have been asked to reply.
	This is a lottery initiative and any further funding will be a matter for the Big Lottery Fund. The Big Lottery Fund is consulting widely about the new programmes it will launch later this year. These programmes will include an emphasis on tackling disadvantage and ensuring all parts of the country receive a fair share of Big Lottery Fund grants. We are encouraging everyone with an interest in Fairshare to join in the consultation and help the Big Lottery Fund design the new arrangements.

Hospitals (Performance Targets)

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health about allowing health service managers to set hospital performance targets.

Paul Boateng: During Spending Review 2004 the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for Health agreed there should be fewer national targets and greater devolution to local NHS organisations, giving them more scope to set local targets within a framework of clear national standards.

Ministry of Defence Sites (Excess Profits)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times since 1997 the clawback clause to recover excess profits on former Ministry of Defence sites has been invoked; which sites were involved; what the sum involved was in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: Payments under the Profit Share Agreement with Annington Homes Ltd. (referred to in the question as 'clawback') are triggered when £1 million is due. A comprehensive list of all the sites to which the payments refer and what sums are involved for each sale is not kept in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, to date, the payments total over £110 million with about 100 sites having been released wholly to Annington and about 125 sites partially released.

National Insurance Fund

Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how much money is contained in the National Insurance Fund;
	(2)  how much money has been allocated to the NHS from the National Insurance Fund in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the 'Report by the Government Actuary's on the drafts of the Social Security Benefits Up-rating order and Social Security' published each year on the Government Actuary's Department website at www.gad.gov.uk/Publications/SociaMnsurance.htm.

Parliamentary Questions

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the questions tabled by the right hon. Member for Birkenhead, on (a) 13 December 2004, reference 205303 and (b) 16 December 2004, reference 206610.

Dawn Primarolo: I have already done so.

Schools (Performance Targets)

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education and Skills about allowing headteachers to set performance targets in schools.

Paul Boateng: The Chancellor has regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Education and Skills about a range of matters, including the use of performance targets.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the contracts signed by his special advisers differ from the Model Contract for Special Advisers.

Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Prime Minister on 17 January 2005, Official Report, column 753W.

State Banqueting

Lynne Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to public funds was of the state banquet on 18 November 2004; and what the cost to public funds has been of state banqueting in each of the last five years.

Bill Rammell: I have been asked to reply.
	The cost to public funds of food, drink and printing for the banquet on 18 November 2004 and for state banqueting in each of the last five years was as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
		
		
			 18 November 2004 French special visit 9,899.88 
			 1 December 2004 Korean state visit 11,656.81 
			 5 May 2004 Polish state visit 8,524.53 
			 19 November 2003 United States state visit 8,906.93 
			 24 June 2003 Russian state visit 7,893.07 
			 6 November 2001 Jordanian state visit 10,538.67 
			 12 June 2001 South African state visit 8,900.74 
			 16 February 2000 Danish state visit 8,144.81 
		
	
	No inward State or Special Visits took place in 2002 due to Her Majesty The Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations.
	In addition to the costs specified in the table, each banquet will have attracted a staff cost. However, staff costs are recorded for each visit in its entirety and to attempt to identify the amounts applicable to each banquet would incur disproportionate cost.

Tax Credits

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much has been paid in compensation by the Inland Revenue to tax credit claimants in each month in (a) 2003–04 and (b) the current tax year.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 16 December 2004
	The circumstances in which Inland Revenue will make compensation payments to tax credits claimants are explained in Code of Practice 1 "Putting things right when we make mistakes".
	A copy of this leaflet is sent with all replies to complaints and is readily available on the Inland Revenue website. The amounts paid in compensation to tax credit claimants, up to the end of December 2004 are detailed:
	
		
			  Value of compensation paid out (£000) 
		
		
			 April 2003 — 
			 May 2003 1 
			 June 2003 2 
			 July 2003 3 
			 August 2003 32 
			 September 2003 39 
			 October 2003 36 
			 November 2003 30 
			 December 2003 25 
			 January 2004 24 
			 February 2004 56 
			 March 2004 61 
			   
			 2004–05  
			 April 2004 105 
			 May 2004 145 
			 June 2004 121 
			 July 2004 100 
			 August 2004 107 
			 September 2004 89 
			 October 2004 84 
			 November 2004 80 
			 December 2004 81

Tax Credits

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many (a) working tax credit and (b) child tax credit cases it has not been possible to amend the circumstances affecting their tax credit award despite notification having been given to the Inland Revenue because of IT failures; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: There are, from time to time, small numbers of tax credits awards where there are difficulties in completing some of the award calculations on the tax credits IT. system. Where a claimant notifies a change in circumstances, in such circumstances, any alteration to the amount of the tax credit payments is calculated clerically.

Tax Credits

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the take-up rate for (a) working tax credit and (b) child tax credit was for (i) 2003–04 and (ii) the current tax year in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: No estimates of take-up rates for tax credits will be available until household survey data for 2003–04 have been analysed. Subject to ensuring the data and methodology are sufficiently robust, we expect the analysis to be completed towards the end of 2005–06.

Unemployment (Leyton and Wanstead)

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were unemployed in Leyton and Wanstead constituency in (a) 1997 and (b) 2004; and what percentage change that represents.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 18 January 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about unemployment in the Leyton and Wanstead Parliamentary Constituency. (208766)
	The estimates available relate to the twelve-month periods ending in February 1997 and February 2004, the latest period for which information is available. In these periods the numbers of unemployed people, who were resident in the Leyton and Wanstead Parliamentary Constituency, were 6,000 and 5,000 respectively.
	These estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) are, as with any sample survey, subject to sampling variability and the estimates of changes over time for local areas are particularly affected.
	A more reliable indication of change between 1997 and 2004 at Parliamentary Constituency level is the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). The annual average number of people resident in the Leyton and Wanstead constituency claiming JSA benefits in 1997 was 4,158. The corresponding average for the first 11 months of 2004 was 2,310. Between the two years there was a fall of 44 per cent.

TRANSPORT

E-mails

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his Department's policy regarding the retention of e-mails in electronic form (a) after and (b) up to 1 January 2005; and what instructions have been given regarding the deletion of e-mails prior to 1 January 2005.

Charlotte Atkins: I refer the hon. Member to our replies to the hon. Member for Guildford (Sue Doughty) on 13 January 2005, Official Report, columns 598–99W.

Heathrow

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will list the (a) working groups and (b) work streams under way under Project Heathrow; and what deadlines have been set for each work stream;
	(2)  if he will list the members of the mixed-mode working group of Project Heathrow;
	(3)  if he will place in the Library copies of the working papers of the working groups under Project Heathrow.

Charlotte Atkins: The forward work programme on Heathrow encompasses a range of activities and working arrangements with various parties. Much of this is work in progress and there are no plans at present to deposit copies of all papers in the Library. Details of the work programme can be found on the Department's website, along with notes of meetings of the air quality technical panels. Further papers will be published on the Department's website as work progresses, in accordance with the Department's publication scheme.
	The initial work to identify possible mixed mode options and develop proposals is being led by BAA. There is no Departmental working group, although the Department is being kept closely informed.
	All the work is designed to enable concluded views to be reached before the end of next year on the prospects for further development at Heathrow, consistent with the environmental conditions set out in the Air Transport White Paper.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the contracts signed by his special advisers differ from the Model Contract for Special Advisers.

Charlotte Atkins: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, on 17 January 2005, Official Report, column 753W.

Telephone Numbers

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much revenue his Department has received from the use of non-geographic 0870 telephone numbers for the period 1 October 2003 to 30 September.

Charlotte Atkins: holding answer 20 December 2004
	The Department for Transport HQ buildings do not have any centrally provided 0870 numbers.
	Departmental Agencies do use 0870 numbers.
	VOSA has two 0870 numbers which raised £4,627.68 in the period.
	The DVLA raised £1.1 million.

US Landing Rights

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether UK Government policy permits the (a) touching down and (b) refuelling in the UK of US aircraft, where such aircraft are carrying individuals destined for interrogation in countries that routinely use torture in their prisons.

Charlotte Atkins: The Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation entitles foreign civil aircraft to make technical stops, for example for refuelling, without requiring the permission of the state it stops in. As such the Department is not notified if technical stops of this nature are made.

DEFENCE

Asian Tsunami

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date his Department first considered providing logistical support and heavy-lifting helicopters to countries hit by the Indian Ocean tsunami; and what assessment has been made of the merits of the re-deployment of personnel and equipment from Iraq to disaster-hit countries.

Adam Ingram: Ministry of Defence officials and Ministers initially learned of the Indian Ocean earthquake through departmental duty officers and broadcast media on Boxing Day 2004. The first formal contact to discuss the implications of the earthquake occurred between DfID and MOD officials early that day. Over subsequent days, MOD and the Permanent Joint Headquarters explored options for supporting DfID in the relief operation, culminating in decisions to provide military capabilities—particularly airlift and a maritime presence—on 30 December. Deployment of military assets commenced on 30 December. This included the re-deployment of several assets including HMS Chatham and RFA Diligence to aid the relief effort.

Asian Tsunami

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what time (UK time) his Department learned of the earthquake off Sumatra on 26 December 2004; and what actions were set in train as a result.

Adam Ingram: Ministry of Defence officials and Ministers initially learned of the Indian Ocean earthquake through departmental duty officers and broadcast media on Boxing Day 2004. The first formal contact to discuss the implications of the earthquake occurred between DfID and MOD officials early that day. Over subsequent days, MOD and the Permanent Joint Headquarters explored options for supporting DfID in the relief operation, culminating in decisions to provide military capabilities—particularly airlift and a maritime presence—on 30 December. Deployment of military assets commenced on 30 December. Subsequently a number of further niche capabilities have been provided to support the DfID-led relief operation.

Asian Tsunami

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military assistance the UK has provided following the tsunami disaster; and what plans he has made for further military assistance.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 17 January 2005
	The Ministry of Defence has reacted quickly with other Government Departments in responding to this disaster, with the focus being on assisting the UN through DfID, with whom we are working very closely, and the provision of direct relief where appropriate.
	The following military assets have been assigned to assist in the relief operation in the Indian Ocean:
	The frigate HMS Chatham (which carries two Lynx helicopters) was redirected to the area on 30 December, arriving on 3 January; and the support ship RFA Diligence, already in the region, joined Chatham off Sri Lanka on 5 January. These vessels have undertaken a number of relief tasks, including assistance to the town of Baticoloa in the East of Sri Lanka, and provision of engineers to the Maldives to assist with refurbishment of generators and desalination equipment. Chatham and Diligence have worked closely with an Observation, Liaison and Reconnaissance Team (OLRT) which deployed to Colombo on 31 December, part of which also deployed to the Maldives on 6 January.
	Royal Air Force C-17 and C-130 transport aircraft have also been assisting in the aid operation since 31 December, including through the delivery of UN infrastructure equipment and medical and other relief supplies into the worst affected areas.
	A further OLRT deployed to Indonesia on 2 January, including to the Aceh region. MOD liaison officers are deployed with the US, Australian and Indonesian military headquarters in the region.
	The Indonesian Government has accepted an offer of additional technical support in the form of two Ball 212 helicopters from the Gurkha Garrison in Brunei. These two aircraft are planned to deploy to the area on 12 January. Further, small, deployments of niche capabilities such as logistics planners and engineers have also taken place in response to DfID and OLRT requests.
	UK MOD continues to work closely with Governments in the region, the UN and DflD to determine the requirement for military assistance over the coming period.

Asian Tsunami

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Hercules C130 planes from RAF Lyneham have been made available for the aid effort in the Indian Ocean; and how many of them have been deployed.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 17 January 2005
	Five Hercules C130 aircraft were identified as available for deployment. To date DfID have only called forward two of these aircraft. A C17 aircraft and a TriStar aircraft have also been tasked to provide relief aid to the affected region.

Asian Tsunami

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason the deployable field hospital at RAF Lyneham is not being used for disaster relief in the Indian Ocean.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 17 January 2005
	Ministry of Defence has offered support to enable UN-led relief operations in the affected region. The requests for MOD assets and capabilities have been co-ordinated by DfID. To date DfID representatives and the MOD OLRT (Operational Level Recce Team) in theatre have not identified a requirement for deployable field hospitals to be sent to the region.

Electronic Devices

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many electronic devices are owned by the Department, broken down by type.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence and its staff use thousands of electronic devices in the delivery of its business on a daily basis. The quantity and classification by type of these devices is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Gulf War Illnesses

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has discussed with his US counterparts the findings of the Report on Scientific Progress in Understanding Gulf War Illnesses of September 2004 commissioned by the US Secretary for Veteran Affairs; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 17 January 2005
	No.

Invoices

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average length of time was between the date of invoices issued to his Department from a supplier and payment by the Department of the invoice in the last 12 months for which figures are available; what percentage of these invoices were paid within 30 days of the date of issue of the invoice; what percentage of these invoices remained unpaid after 90 days; and if he will make a statement on the Department's policy on the payment of invoices issued to it.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence does not keep statistics on the average length of time taken to pay suppliers' invoices. The vast majority of invoices issued to the Ministry of Defence from suppliers are submitted directly to the Defence Bills Agency, Liverpool. In 2003–04, the Agency paid 99.98 per cent. of all valid bills within 11 calendar days of receipt. Only three invoices (out of the 4.9 million processed) took longer than 30 days, and none remained unpaid after 90 days.
	The Government are committed to improving the payment culture in the UK in order to create a fair and stable business climate. Government departments and their agencies should aim to pay all invoices not in dispute within 30 days or within the agreed contractual terms if otherwise specified.
	As you can see, the Department fully supports this policy.

Iraq

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK military personnel he expects will be in Iraq at the time of the January election.

Geoff Hoon: holding answer 17 January 2005
	As at 14 January 2005, approximately 8,950 United Kingdom armed forces personnel were serving on Op. Telic. Of these, approximately 8,150 are based within Iraq.
	We anticipate that the figures above will increase by approximately 400 by 30 January 2005, the date of the Iraqi elections, with the arrival of the Extremely High Readiness Reserve on 17–19 January.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to publish the assessment undertaken by his Department of the United States Department of Defense Report on the Khamisiyah chemical weapons storage bunker in Iraq.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence assessment of the United States Department of Defense report on Khamisiyah is currently being finalised and the intention is to publish this shortly.

Mirach Target Drone

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated out-of-service date for the Mirach target drone is.

Adam Ingram: Under current arrangements it is planned that the Mirach target will be in service until 2007. It may continue in service beyond that date as part of the successor Combined Aerial Target Service but no decisions have yet been taken.

RAF (Sexual Discrimination Survey)

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library the survey on sexual harassment, sexual discrimination and bullying in the Royal Air Force which was reported in July.

Ivor Caplin: Yes.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether departmental special advisers have attended meetings with external (a) bodies and (b) individuals, in their official capacity and without Ministers, since May 1997.

Ivor Caplin: Special advisers hold meetings with a wide range of external representatives in their official capacity. All such meetings are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct for special advisers.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether departmental special advisers have made speeches in their official capacity since May 1997.

Ivor Caplin: Any speeches made by special advisers in an official capacity are conducted in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

Victoria Cross Memorial (Public Access)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to allow visits by the public to the Victoria Cross memorial and other areas of his Department's building in Whitehall; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: Visits by small groups of members of the public to certain areas of the Ministry of Defence's Main Building in Whitehall, such as the Victoria Cross and George Cross Memorial and the Henry VIII Wine Cellar, will be possible but only by prior arrangement and as security circumstances permit. Considerations of safety and security preclude open access and may lead to pre-arranged visits being cancelled at short notice.
	Groups wishing to visit should apply via the 'Visiting Ministry of Defence Properties' section of the MOD website: http://www.mod.uk/aboutus/visits/
	Pictures of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Memorial can be found on the Defence Image Database: http://www.photos.mod.uk

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Smoking

John Mann: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission in how many rooms in the House to which hon. Members have access, other than their offices, smoking is (a) permitted and (b) banned.

Archy Kirkwood: The Members' Handbook contains guidance on places where hon. Members may currently smoke in the House of Commons, including a list of designated non-smoking areas. In the outbuildings there is a presumption that common areas are non-smoking unless designated otherwise. The Commission will shortly be considering policy on smoking in the light of a review which it initiated in July 2004.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Cricket Broadcasting Contract

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with the cricket authorities on their decision not to sign a contract for the broadcasting of domestic test cricket on terrestrial stations; and whether she has considered re-listing test cricket.

Richard Caborn: I was briefed by the England and Wales Cricket Board on the outcome of their negotiations. Cricket test matches played in England are protected under the listing provisions, but only in respect of secondary coverage, such as highlights. Of the terrestrial channels, Five are to televise test highlights at peak time and live commentary will be available on BBC radio. It may be necessary to review the statutory list as digital take-up increases but any such review would not affect contracts already entered into.

Digital Television

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the take-up of digital television; and if she will make a statement.

Estelle Morris: According to figures published by Ofcom, digital television was in 55.9 per cent. of households at the end of the third quarter of 2004. This is up from 47 per cent. at the same point in 2003, with satellite, terrestrial and cable all contributing to this progress.

External Suppliers

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many tenders were let by her Department to external suppliers in financial year 2003–04; and what the value was.

Richard Caborn: 69 contracts were let by competitive tender during the period 2003–04 with a value of £6,073,646. A number of these contracts were call-off contracts still extant so the final value of those is not yet known.

Horseracing

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what discussions she has had with the British Horseracing Board on the recent relevant European Court of Justice ruling; and what the outcome of the discussions was;
	(2)  what representations she has received on extending the life of the Levy Board.

Richard Caborn: holding answer 17 January 2005
	I have received a number of representations from within the racing industry that the abolition of the Levy Board should be deferred and have met representatives of the British Horseracing Board (BHB) on several occasions since the European Court of Justice ruling was announced.
	In response to the ruling the British Horseracing Board has commissioned an independent review into the future funding of racing. I welcome this review and look forward to seeing its conclusions and the views of the BHB, the Levy Board and the Association of British Bookmakers.

Horseracing

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will amend the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963 to allow flood-lit all-weather horse racing.

Richard Caborn: The Betting Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963 includes no prohibition on flood-lit all-weather horse racing. However, it does prohibit the late-night opening of Licensed Betting Offices (LBOs) during the winter season.
	The Gambling Bill will repeal the 1963 Act and will not seek to replicate any provisions relating to LBO opening hours, which will in future be determined by the local licensing authority following guidance from the Gambling Commission.

Lottery Funding (Sunderland)

Bill Etherington: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the contribution the Lottery has made to combating (a) social exclusion and (b) financial exclusion in Sunderland; and if she will make a statement.

Estelle Morris: Lottery distributors are required to take into account the need to reduce economic and social deprivation in making awards. It can be difficult to determine precisely the extent of their contribution to reducing social and financial exclusion but a significant number of Lottery-funded projects have helped to regenerate inner cities, create employment and strengthen communities. Since the Lottery began there have been 240 awards made in the constituency of Sunderland north totalling £24.1 million. In the local authority area of Sunderland, there have been 721 projects totalling £69 million.

Lottery Sports Funding

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of National Lottery Funding for sport paid through Sport England is available for open bidding in 2004–05; and what estimate she has made of the cash value of National Lottery Sports funding made available through Sport England that will be available for open bidding in 2005–06.

Richard Caborn: holding answer 17 January 2005
	Sport England budgeted to make award commitments of £148.4 million in 2004–05. Of this £71.1 million—equivalent to 48 per cent.—was budgeted to be available through open application. Sport England's current estimated awards budget for 2005–06 includes £42.5 million which would be available through open application. The budget for 2005–06 has not yet been finalised.

Newspapers and Periodicals

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the (a) newspapers and (b) periodicals taken by her Department in each year since 1997; and how much the Department spent on each in each year.

Richard Caborn: I am arranging for copies of a document listing the (a) newspapers and (b) periodicals taken by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in each year since 1997 to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	How much the Department spent on each title in each year can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department's total spend on (a) newspapers and (b) periodicals (excluding yearbooks and directories and including magazines) in each financial year since 1997–98 is shown in the table.
	
		£
		
			  Type of publication 
			  Newspaper Periodical Total 
		
		
			 1997–98 9,135 16,607 25,742 
			 1998–99 8,747 14,462 23,209 
			 1999–2000 10,800 17,185 28,356 
			 2000–01 12,221 13,415 25,636 
			 2001–02 13,432 14,802 28,234 
			 2002–03 13,064 16,329 29,393 
			 2003–04 11,978 16,557 28,535 
			 2004–05 12,196 17,045 29,241

Parking Spaces

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many car parking spaces are provided for those (a) working in and (b) visiting her Department.

Richard Caborn: The Department has four premises in London and provides a total of 10 car parking spaces, five of which are for Ministers and Permanent Secretary and two for registered disabled employees. The remaining three spaces are available to visitors and contractors and, exceptionally, staff. Two other spaces were converted to bicycle racking during 2004–05.

School Sports

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much of the £750 million for school sport announced by the Prime Minister in 2000 has been (a) pledged and (b) spent.

Richard Caborn: holding answer 17 January 2005
	£598.6 million of New Opportunities for PE and Sport (NOPES) funding has been committed to date for over 2,000 facilities, with £59 million drawn down by local education authorities.
	80 per cent. of NOPES funding has now been committed, well ahead of schedule and we anticipate that the great majority of new facilities will be in use by spring 2006, in line with the original timetable.

Secondment

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the people working within her Department on secondment from the private sector, broken down by (a) the organisation or industry they came from and (b) the policy responsibilities they have been given.

Richard Caborn: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not currently have any people working on secondment from the private sector.

Staff Vacancies

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much her Department spent on advertising staff vacancies in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003.

Richard Caborn: The Department's expenditure on advertising staff vacancies in (a) 2002–03 was £59,922 and (b) 2003–04 was £51,349.

Tourism

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of the population works in the tourism industry.

Richard Caborn: As at June 2003 there were 2.2 million people working in the tourism-related industries in Great Britain. 1 This represents nearly 8 per cent. of the total working population.
	1 Tourism employment estimates are regularly published in the National Statistics series 'Labour Market Trends'.

Tourism

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much revenue tourism earned in 2004.

Richard Caborn: Figures for tourism revenue in 2004 are not yet available.
	The table shows the components of tourism revenue in the United Kingdom each year up to 2003.
	
		£ billion
		
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Inbound tourists while in UK(4) 12.8 11.3 11.7 11.9 
			 Fares to UK carriers by inbound tourists(5) 3.3 3.1 3.1 3.2 
			 Domestic trips with overnight stay(6) 26.1 26.1 26.7 26.5 
			 Leisure Day Visits(7) 31.8 31.5 31.3 31.8 
			 Imputed rent for second home ownership(8) 0.90 0.91 0.92 0.94 
			 Tourism consumption on UK trips 74.9 72.9 73.7 74.2 
			 Outbound trips—expenditure in the UK(8) 14.7 15.4 16.4 17.6 
			 Total tourism consumption 89.6 88.3 90.1 91.8 
		
	
	(4) International Passenger Survey
	(5) Estimates based on National Statistics balance of payments
	(6) UK Tourism Survey
	(7) DCMS estimates based on Great Britain Day Visits Survey 1998 and 2002
	(8) UK Tourism Satellite Account estimate for 2000 with forward projection
	Provisional figures for expenditure by overseas tourists will be released on 9 February. Figures for domestic tourism expenditure are scheduled for release in May.

Waterways Museums

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the public funding of the waterways museums at (a) Gloucester Docks, (b) Stoke Bruerne and (c) Ellesmere Port.

Estelle Morris: From 1999 to 2004 these museums received over £300,000 from the Designated Challenge Fund, run by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council on behalf of the Department. Central Government have only ever directly sponsored and funded a few institutions—mostly the major, long-established national museums set up by statute. Our remaining resources are committed to the Renaissance in the Regions programme, a major initiative that provides significant development funding for regional museums across England.

PRIME MINISTER

Constitutional Treaty

John Cryer: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what guidance he has issued to civil servants regarding providing public information on the constitutional treaty for the European Union;
	(2)  what guidance he plans to issue to the civil service on its role prior to and during the referendum on the constitutional treaty for the European Union;
	(3)  what guidance he plans to issue to special advisers on their role prior to and during the proposed referendum on the constitutional treaty for the European Union;
	(4)  what discussions he has had with the Cabinet Secretary regarding the role of the civil service prior to and during the referendum on the constitutional treaty for the European Union.

Tony Blair: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Miliband) today.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Committee

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the future of the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Committee.

Elliot Morley: The report on the Organisational and Performance Review of the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission was published on 2 December. Defra and the other funding departments are considering the recommendations in the report and aim to reach a decision shortly.
	AEBC members considered the review at their last meeting on 9 December. They agreed with the review's main recommendation: that the AEBC should be wound up. At the meeting Malcolm Grant said that he would put a note to the Government summarising Commission members' views on the review and the way forward. We look forward to receiving this shortly and indeed any views that individual members would wish to put to us.

Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Committee

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for the future of the Agriculture, Environment and Biotechnology Committee.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 17 January 2005
	The report on the Organisational and Performance Review of the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission was published on 2 December. Defra and the other funding departments are considering the recommendations in the report and aim to reach a decision shortly.
	AEBC members considered the review at their last meeting on 9 December. They agreed with the review's main recommendation: that the AEBC should be wound up. At the meeting Malcolm Grant said that he would put a note to the Government summarising Commission members' views on the review and the way forward. We look forward to receiving this shortly and indeed any views that individual members would wish to put to us.

Carbon Emissions

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the level of UK carbon emissions resulting from electrical appliances being left in standby mode in the last year for which figures are available.

Elliot Morley: The Government's Market Transformation Programme estimates that consumer electronics, home computing equipment, domestic cooking equipment and office equipment left in stand-by mode produced approximately 650,000 tonnes of carbon (c6.7TWh) in the UK in 2003.
	We are also aware that there is further energy consumption, for which we do not have firm estimates at present, from washing machines and dishwashers which are switched on awaiting use or after they have completed their wash cycles; consumer electronic equipment using external power supplies (e.g. domestic portable telephones) that continue to consume energy when plugged in but not in use; and domestic personal computer equipment where the stand-by facilities are not properly enabled. Taken together, these sources of consumption may bring the overall figure to around one million tonnes of carbon.
	In order to try to tackle this problem the Market Transformation Programme (www.mtprog.com) has been encouraging manufacturers to reduce both the "on" and the stand-by power consumption of household appliances through the adoption of design improvements, voluntary codes of conduct, and best practice guidelines and targets. This approach has been fairly successful in respect of televisions: an EU-wide voluntary agreement will mean that the majority of new televisions sold in the UK now consume around 1 watt of power in stand-by mode rather than the 3–8 watts consumed by older models. Discussions are now under way to extend this agreement to cover other consumer electronics.
	A similar agreement for external power supplies aims to encourage new power supplies consuming around half a watt in stand-by mode compared to the present average of just over 2 watts.
	In addition, the Government's initiative on sustainable procurement, announced last autumn, includes a requirement for Government Departments which purchase computers and televisions to specify low stand-by power requirements.

Carbon Emissions

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the national carbon dioxide reduction goal for 2020 referred to in the final paragraph of page 3 of the review of the climate change consultation paper is.

Elliot Morley: As we set out in the 2003 Energy White Paper, one of the four goals of our energy policy is to put ourselves on a path to cut the UK's carbon dioxide emissions by some 60 per cent. by about 2050, as recommended by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, with real progress by 2020.
	We estimated then that, on the basis of our current policies, including the full impact of the Climate Change Programme, our carbon dioxide emissions might amount to some 135 MtC in 2020. The Energy White Paper said that, to be consistent with demonstrating leadership in the international process, we will aim for cuts in carbon dioxide emissions of 15–25 MtC below that by 2020, which would put us on a course to reduce our carbon dioxide emissions by some 60 per cent. by about 2050.

Climate Impacts Programmes

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the projections arrived at by the UK Climate Impacts Programmes.

Elliot Morley: In 2002, the Department published new Climate Change Scenarios in support of the UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP). The scenarios were prepared by the Tyndall and Hadley Centres under contract to the Department and used the Hadley Centre's high resolution regional climate change model. They represented a significant step forward in providing a basis for assessing the potential impacts of climate change in different parts of the UK during this century.
	The scenarios indicate that it is likely that:
	UK annual average temperatures will rise by between 2 and 3.5 degrees Celsius by the 2080s;
	High summer temperatures will become more frequent and very cold winters will become increasingly rare;
	Winters will become wetter and summers may become drier everywhere;
	Snowfall amounts will decrease throughout the UK;
	Heavy winter precipitation will become more frequent;
	Relative sea level will continue to rise around most of the UK's shoreline, with the South East expected to see the largest increases of between 26 and 86 centimetres by the 2080s;
	Extreme sea levels will be experienced more frequently.
	These projections are based on four alternative scenarios of future global emissions of greenhouse gases and as such capture some of the uncertainty that surrounds our ability to predict future climate. However it is recognised that projections of climate change, especially at the regional level, are also subject to modelling uncertainties which are the focus of current research. Nevertheless the UKCIP scenarios provide a scientifically robust indication of the general trends in climate that are expected and a useful basis for assessing the potential risks and opportunities of climate change.
	Further information is available in the full report in the Libraries of both Houses. The reports can also be found at www.ukcip.org.uk.

Climate-based Conflict

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the (a) Ministry of Defence and (b) Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the impact of climate-based conflict, with particular reference to Darfur.

Elliot Morley: The Department has been engaged in the preparatory work for a study on countries at risk of instability being undertaken by the Prime Minster's Strategy Unit, which identifies climate change as one of a range of threats to stability.

Dobson Photospectrerra Data

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what advice she has received from the scientific community regarding the cessation of the compilation of Dobson Photospectrerra data from Camborne;
	(2)  what consultation she undertook before stopping research into ozone depletion at Camborne Meteorological Office;
	(3)  for how many years the UK Government has collected data using the Dobson Spectrerra;
	(4)  what analysis has been done of the data collected by the Dobson Photospectrerra; and if she will make a statement;
	(5)  what representations she has received about the discontinuance of the collection at Camborne of data concerning ozone levels;
	(6)  what steps she is taking to collect data in the south-west of England about ozone depletion.

Elliot Morley: The Government are satisfied that the current arrangements for collecting ozone data are more cost-effective than those applying previously, and meet scientific and public information needs.
	The Met Office, for the UK Government, has collected Dobson Photospectrometer data since 1957. Measurements at Camborne were taken between 1957 and 1967 and then between 1989 and 2003. In the intervening period, measurements were taken at Bracknell, near Reading. There have been continuous measurements at Lerwick since 1957.
	Ozone measurements are also available from satellites and give complete coverage for the UK, although a few local measurements in an area the size of the UK are needed to calibrate the satellite data and to provide long-term data for analysing trends.
	At the renewal of the monitoring contracts in 2003, bidders were asked to propose a rationalisation of both the ozone and ultra-violet radiation (UV) monitoring networks. Following an analysis of network requirements, provided by Imperial College, it was decided to move measurements of ozone from Camborne to Reading, for the following reasons:
	There was a long record of UV measurements at Reading and co-location of the ozone and UV monitoring sites in the south was deemed to be useful.
	Ozone measurements had been made at Bracknell, near Reading, previously.
	Ozone measurements were also made in Valentia, Ireland, and that would be sufficient information, together with Reading, to provide cover for south west England.
	A separate formal consultation was not undertaken but was not considered necessary as the open tender process, which included key players in ozone monitoring, sought guidance on the monitoring requirement.
	The Met Office expressed the view to Defra that the measurements at Camborne should have been continued; but Defra, in reviewing all of the advice it had received, concluded that on balance relocation to Reading was the best option.
	The daily ozone data are analysed on a weekly basis, and the results, including those covering the south-west, are placed on a publicly accessible website (http://www.airquality.co.uk/archive/ozone/). The record at Lerwick over the last 30 years shows a decreasing trend in overall ozone levels. However, there is some indication of ozone recovery in the last 10 years at both Lerwick and Camborne. If any short-term low or high ozone events occur, further analysis is carried out to ascertain the causes. Records are sent to international data centres where they are made available for studies to identify global ozone trends.

EU Constitution

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of whether a high level of protection and improvement of the environment as required by Article 1–3(3) of the proposed EU constitution has been attained by (a) the United Kingdom and (b) each other EU member state.

Elliot Morley: Article 2 of the existing Treaty establishing the European Community sets the promotion of a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment as one of the tasks of the EC. Similarly, Article 1–3(3) of the treaty establishing a constitution for the European Union sets working for the sustainable development of Europe as one of the objectives of the EU, with a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment as one of the bases for this. The UK welcomes this. The environment is an area where considerable progress has been made by EU member states working together.
	In relation to work in the UK, on 8 December 2004, Defra published its five year strategy, "Delivering the Essentials of Life". This sets out Defra's achievements, vision and plans for work over the coming years.
	At EU level, the sixth Environmental Action Programme, adopted in 2002, set out priority areas for work over a 10 year period; work on more detailed thematic strategies covering key areas is in progress, and these are due to be published by the European Commission in 2005.
	Assessment of the state of the environment in other member states is a matter for those states, and for relevant EU institutions such as the European Commission, European Environment Agency (EEA) and Eurostat where collating such information lies within their remit. The EEA's "Kiev report" published in April 2003 provides an in-depth report on the state of the environment in Europe. The documents referred to can be found in the Library of the House.

Government Decontamination and Recovery Service

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  on what date (a) it was decided to establish the Government Decontamination and Recovery Service, (b) the service began operations and (c) the services will be fully operational;
	(2)  what the relationship is of the Government Decontamination and Recovery Service with other Government agencies with overlapping functions; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what the command structure is of the Government Decontamination and Recovery Service; and which official from her Department heads the service;
	(4)  how many staff are employed in the Government Decontamination and Recovery Service, broken down by (a) permanent employees, (b) temporary staff and (c) contractors;
	(5)  what the (a) remit and (b) budget is of the Government Decontamination and Recovery Service.

Elliot Morley: As I announced on 25 March 2004, the Government are actively considering setting up a decontamination and recovery service. Progress has been made and the Government expect to make a further announcement on 25 January.

Kyoto Commitments

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what efforts the UK is making within the EU to ensure that those EU countries that are off-target with their Kyoto commitments make better progress to meet their commitments; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Demonstrating progress towards the EU's Kyoto Protocol target of a 8 per cent. reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2012 will be a priority for the UK's presidency of the EU later this year. We are taking every opportunity to raise the issue in discussions with other member states, and stressing the importance of implementing measures to meet their commitments. We will also press for harmonisation across member states with respect to the scope of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme for Phase 2 (2008–12).
	The latest emission projections from member states suggest that a combination of existing domestic policies and measures, additional policies and measures which are already in an advanced state of planning, and emission credits gained through the Kyoto Protocol's project-based mechanisms will deliver a total EU-15 emissions cut of 8.6 per cent. by 2010. We will continue to review and monitor progress towards this goal.

Model Dog Control Offences

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her timetable is for consultation on model dog control offences; who will be consulted; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: We will consult all interested parties on the relevant regulations. The timing of the consultation will depend on the outcome of Parliament's consideration of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill and when that consideration is completed.

Model Dog Control Offences

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to provide guidance to local authorities about (a) the circumstances under which dog control orders should be used and (b) the provision of an appeals mechanism in respect of such orders.

Alun Michael: Detailed provisions on dog control orders made under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill will be set out in regulations, and we will also issue guidance to local authorities on the use of these orders.
	There are no provisions in the Bill for appeal against a dog control order, as the intention of the Bill is to simplify procedures for introducing local measures on dogs, allowing controls on dogs to be decided at the local level in light of local circumstances. There will be a requirement for full local consultation before a dog control order is made, and general judicial remedies such as judicial review will continue to be available.

OP Pesticides

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to update advice to (a) farmers, (b) market gardeners and (c) other users of organophosphate pesticides in the light of the findings of the Department of Health's advisory committee on carcinogenicity relating to links between prostate cancer and these substances.

Alun Michael: The Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP) has primary responsibility for providing advice to the Government on any new evidence which may affect the risk to those who use pesticides. At its meeting on 13 January the ACP considered the Report of the Department of Health's advisory Committee on Carcinogenicity relating to the link between prostate cancer and pesticides.
	The ACP concurred with that committee's view that there is some limited evidence to suggest an association between farmers/farm workers, exposure to pesticides, and increased risk of prostate cancer, but noted that this limited evidence did not prove a causal link between pesticide use and cancer. The ACP also agreed with the conclusion that the potential association between herbicide use and cancer in farmers and farm workers should be kept under review. Organophosphate pesticides were not identified in the report.
	In addition, the ACP is advising that a study be put in place to look at workers involved with pesticide manufacture.
	I will carefully consider the advice given.

OP Pesticides

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will publish the report of the review of the scientific literature on links between Parkinson's Disease and pesticide exposure (PS2601), funded by her Department.

Alun Michael: The full report by the Medical Research Council Institute for Environment and Health: Pesticides and Parkinson's Disease—a critical review (PS2601) has been completed. In line with Defra procedure the report will be published through a peer reviewed journal. Publication is anticipated by the middle of this year. A summary report can be found in the 'Research' section of the Defra website. http://www.defra.gov.uk/science/project_data/DocumentLibrary/PS2601/PS2601_1948_FRP.doc

Ozone

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the levels of (a) urban, (b) rural and (c) total concentrations of low-level ozone were in each year since 1997.

Elliot Morley: The concentrations of ground-level ozone between 1997 and the end of 2004 are given in the following tables 1 to 4. Data are provided as both annual average of maximum daily eight hour means and as annual averages, for all UK non-roadside urban, all UK rural and all UK non-roadside monitoring sites operating in the year concerned. Changes in the number of sites in the network in different years may alter the comparability of years. Data from 2004 are provisional. The raw data from all the sites underlying these tables are published on the National Air Quality Information Archive website www.airquality.co.uk as it is collected.
	
		Table 1: Annual mean and annual average of daily maximum eight hour mean ozone concentrations for all UK non-roadside urban sites operating in the year -- All UK urban (non-roadside) sites
		
			  Annual mean (micrograms per metre cubed) Arithmetic mean of daily maximum eight hour means (micrograms per metre cubed) 
			  Average Minimum Maximum Average Minimum Maximum 
		
		
			 1997 30.95 19 46 45 26 61 
			 1998 34.90 20 53 49 32 64 
			 1999 39.20 21 55 56 36 73 
			 2000 37.14 21 54 53 34 68 
			 2001 36.69 23 50 52 36 66 
			 2002 38.21 23 58 54 35 71 
			 2003 41.35 28 58 60 42 81 
			 2004 40.92 24 57 57 38 71 
		
	
	
		Table 2: Annual mean and annual average of daily maximum eight hour mean ozone concentrations for all UK rural sites operating in the year -- All UK rural sites
		
			  Annual mean (micrograms per metre cubed) Arithmetic mean of daily maximum eight hour means (micrograms per metre cubed) 
			  Average Minimum Maximum Average Minimum Maximum 
		
		
			 1997 52.79 43 64 65 58 74 
			 1998 56.00 42 71 69 60 79 
			 1999 58.47 46 74 73 65 83 
			 2000 53.79 43 66 68 59 77 
			 2001 53.64 44 64 67 55 75 
			 2002 53.94 42 69 68 54 78 
			 2003 59.00 49 73 72 65 84 
			 2004 56.89 45 77 71 52 85 
		
	
	
		Table 3: Annual mean and annual average of daily maximum eight hour mean ozone concentrations for all UK non-roadside sites operating in the year -- All sites (total)
		
			  Annual mean (micrograms per metre cubed) Arithmetic mean of daily maximum eight hour means (micrograms per metre cubed) 
			  Average Minimum Maximum Average Minimum Maximum 
		
		
			 1997 36.72 19 64 49 17 74 
			 1998 38.94 12 71 53 19 79 
			 1999 42.75 13 74 59 22 83 
			 2000 40.03 13 66 56 23 77 
			 2001 39.49 14 64 54 23 75 
			 2002 41.06 15 69 56 24 78 
			 2003 44.68 16 73 62 26 84 
			 2004 43.75 15 77 59 25 85 
		
	
	
		Table 4: Annual mean and annual average of daily maximum eight hour mean ozone concentrations for Lullington Heath a rural site -- Lullington Heath
		
			  Annual mean (micrograms per metre cubed) Arithmetic mean of daily max eight hour running means (micrograms per metre cubed) 
		
		
			 1997 58 74 
			 1998 58 73 
			 1999 62 79 
			 2000 58 72 
			 2001 57 72 
			 2002 55 70 
			 2003 63 81 
			 2004 61 77

Recycling

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what targets for waste recycling she has set for (a) Cumbria county council, (b) Allerdale district, (c) Carlisle city council and (d) Eden district council.

Elliot Morley: In 2005–06, Cumbria county council has a Statutory Performance Standard requiring it to send for recycling or composting 21 per cent. of the total tonnage of household waste collected by its constituent waste collection authorities and at its civic amenity sites.
	In the same year, Allerdale district council, Carlisle city council and Eden district council have Statutory Performance Standards which require them to send for recycling or composting 18, 30 and 24 per cent. respectively of household waste collected.

Recycling

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what financial assistance her Department is making available to (a) Cumbria County Council, (b) Allerdale District, (c) Carlisle City Council and (d) Eden District Council to assist with meeting recycling targets.

Elliot Morley: The main source of funding for the above councils is through the Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services (EPCS) block of annual Government grant. It is for the local authorities to decide what proportion of the block is invested in waste management services including recycling.
	In 2003–4 the Carlisle/Eden Partnership were awarded £1,155,035 from the National Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund. In the same year Allerdale Borough Council received £424,665. Allerdale Borough Council received a further £597,116 from the fund in 2004–5.
	To relieve spending pressures in the waste area authorities received the following amounts in 2004–05:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Cumbria County Council: 20,866 
			 Allerdale Borough Council: 19,367 
			 Carlisle City Council: 39,153 
			 Eden District Council: 13,947 
		
	
	In 2004–05, Cumbria County Council received 143,361 in direct consultancy support through Defra's Waste Implementation Programme to undertake a county wide waste composition analysis. In the same year, Allerdale District Council received £18,275 to review their strategic planning for waste management, and Eden District Council received £12,800 for work looking at preventing commercial waste from entering its domestic waste stream.
	The Government has also announced a three-year targeted local authority Waste Performance and Efficiency Grant totalling £260 million A full list of the allocation to each authority in England in 2005–06 has been published. As part of this allocation authorities will receive the following amounts:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Cumbria County Council: 210,178.14 
			 Allerdale Borough Council: 29,375.43 
			 Carlisle City Council: 32,344.53 
			 Eden District Council: 15,997.07

Sewage

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much sewage was discharged into the (a) Severn, (b) Yorkshire Ouse, (c) Humber, (d) Mersey, (e) Aire, (f) Avon, (g) Tyne, (h) Trent, (i) Dee, (j) Great Ouse, (k) Wye, (l) Spey, (m) Nene, (n) Eden, (o) Ribble and (p) Tees in each month of the last four years.

Elliot Morley: The information requested is not held centrally and could not be provided without disproportionate cost.

Thames Barrier

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the occasions on which the Thames Barrier has been closed in each of the last 10 years; and what estimate she has made of the number of occasions when it will be closed in (a) 2010, (b) 2020, (c) 2050 and (d) 2100.

Elliot Morley: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 19 April 2004, Official Report, columns 154–55W. The Environment Agency's estimates for future years remain as given in that answer.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Careers Service

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when the Government plan to release the Connexions End to End Review of Careers Education and Guidance; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The findings of the End to End Review of Careers Education and Guidance (CEG) are being used to inform the development of the Youth Green Paper, and I expect the findings to be published alongside the Green Paper.

College/School Funding Gap

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures she plans to take to reduce the funding gap between the college sector and the schools sector.

Kim Howells: Government recognises that there are differences in the funding allocated to further education colleges and school sixth forms and has taken action to address this. For the academic year 2003/04, base funding rates per qualification increased by 3 per cent. for school sixth forms and by 4.5 per cent. for further education colleges on a broadly comparable basis. In 2004/05, funding rates for colleges meeting their targets increased by 5 per cent. while those for school sixth forms rose by 4 per cent. We expect to see this trend continue in the 2005/06 academic year.

College/School Funding Gap

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will revise the further education college sector's area uplift funding so that colleges in areas of lower funding in close proximity to areas of higher funding will be less disadvantaged in comparison to nearby colleges.

Kim Howells: The area costs uplift is a feature of the Learning and Skills Council's funding methodology. As matters concerning the level and structure of the uplift relate to the LSC's operational responsibilities Mark Haysom, the LSC's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Member providing the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Libraries.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost of travel within the UK for the Department was in each year since 1997; and how much of this was spent on (a) hire cars, (b) helicopter hire, (c) hotel accommodation and (e) subsistence.

Derek Twigg: All travel and subsistence is conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Ministerial Code, Travel by Ministers and the Civil Service Management Code.
	The detailed information requested for the Department is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much the Department spent on first-class travel in each year since 1997.

Derek Twigg: All travel is conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Ministerial Code, Travel by Ministers and the Civil Service Management Code.
	The detailed information requested for the Department is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many overseas trips, and at what total cost, have been made by her Department in each year since 1997; and what the costs of (a) flights, (b) internal travel, (c) hotel accommodation and (d) subsistence were of each trip.

Derek Twigg: All travel and subsistence is conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Ministerial Code, Travel by Ministers and the Civil Service Management Code.
	Information relating to overseas travel by Ministers is published on an annual basis. Information for the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 2004 is available in the Library of the House. Information for the financial year 2004–05 will be published as soon as possible at the end of the current financial year.
	The detailed information requested for the Department is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Telephones

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his policy is on the use of telephones in his Department by members of staff for their own personal use for (a) domestic and (b) international calls; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The policy on the use of telephones in the Department for Education and Skills by members of staff for their own personal use in respect of domestic calls is that only essential and genuinely urgent personal telephone calls are permitted (free of charge) providing that they are kept short. No other personal telephone calls are permitted from office telephones, other than through the use of a personal chargecard. The international dialling facility is barred and only enabled where there is a clear and justified business need.

Departmental Telephones

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures he has taken to ensure the telephones in his Department are not used by staff for making unauthorised personal calls to international numbers.

Derek Twigg: In order to ensure telephones in the Department for Education and Skills are not used by staff for making unauthorised personal calls to international numbers, international dialling is barred on the telephone system and enabled on an individual basis only where there is a clear and justified business requirement to use this facility.

Departmental Telephones

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the estimated cost to his Department is of unauthorised personal calls made by members of staff to (a) domestic and (b) international numbers.

Derek Twigg: In common with a number of Government Departments, The Department for Education and Skills takes a managed telephone service from OGC that is charged on the basis of each live extension that includes call charges. The Department has no visibility of call charges and therefore no costs are incurred in respect of unauthorised personal calls to domestic and international numbers.

Documents

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her Department's policy is in relation to the storage of documents and the use of shredders; and whether this policy has been reviewed in the past 12 months.

Derek Twigg: The DfES regularly destroy records as part of proper records management policies. Overall, less than 5 per cent. of Government records contain historically significant information worth preserving—the rest are destroyed, and always have been. Paying to store outdated records which are no longer of any use, and which are not historically valuable, wastes taxpayers' money.
	The DfES has an agreed contract for the collection and destruction of confidential waste in a secure manner, using staff and procedures accredited to British Security Industry Association standards, British Standards and/or European Standards as appropriate.
	The Department continues to implement well established policies and procedures for the review and disposal of files in accordance with its administrative needs and the Public Records Act.
	The Department has seen no reason to review its policy on shredding material during the last 12 months.

Drugs in Schools

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many representations have been made to her Department by schools on problems of drug use (a) on and (b) outside school premises in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  how many notifications of illegal drug possessions by school pupils on school premises there were in each of the last 10 years;
	(3)  how many needle stick injuries have been reported from discarded needles in school grounds in each of the last 10 years.

Derek Twigg: Schools are not required to notify the Department and data is not collected on numbers of illegal drug possessions by school pupils or needle stick injuries in school grounds. The Department receives representations on a range of issues relating to drugs from organisations and individuals but data is not available in the form requested. We are committed to ensuring that good quality drug education is taught in schools and that schools are supported to respond appropriately to drug issues in schools.

E-mails

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the Department's policy is in relation to the storage and deletion of e-mails; and whether this policy has been reviewed in the past 12 months.

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on her Department's policy regarding the retention of e-mails in electronic form (a) after and (b) up to 1 January 2005; and what instructions have been given regarding the deletion of e-mails prior to 1 January 2005.

Derek Twigg: E-mail messages that form part of the official record are saved for as long as business needs require and stored corporately in accordance with departmental record management procedures and the e-mail guidance available on the National Archives website at: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/electronicrecords/advice/pdf/managing_emails.pdf
	Electronic records (including e-mails) which need to be retained are saved into the department's formal electronic record keeping systems or into the paper filing system. Those electronic records (including e-mails) which do not need to be retained are disposed of regularly. DfES are considering the introduction of a limit on the time that e-mails may be kept outside an official record keeping system before automatic deletion.

Freedom of Information

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the publication schemes under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 prepared by public authorities for which her Department has responsibility; and if she will list the authorities which (a) have had and (b) have not prepared such schemes.

Derek Twigg: All publication schemes have to be approved by the Information Commissioner. There is a requirement that each public authority reviews its publication scheme periodically to ensure they are accurate and up to date. The DfES is reviewing its scheme to improve access and content.
	The public authorities with published publication schemes for which the Secretary of State has responsibility are:
	Department for Education and Skills
	Adult Learning Inspectorate
	British Educational Communications and Technology Agency
	Engineering Construction Industry Training Board
	Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service
	Construction Industry Training Board
	General Teaching Council
	Higher Education Funding Council for England
	Investors in People UK
	Learning and Skills Council
	National College for School Leadership
	Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
	Student Loans Company
	Sector Skills Development Agency
	Teacher Training Agency
	Those public authorities currently developing their publication schemes in consultation with the Office of the Information Commissioner are:
	Independent Advisory Group on Teenage Pregnancy
	Office for Fair Access

Further and Higher Education

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the (a) higher education and (b) further education participation rates are for 
	(1)  the (i) poorest and (ii) richest 100 wards in England;
	(2)  each local authority in England, listed in descending order according to the greater disparity between the highest and lowest rates; and what the average participation rate is in each case.

Kim Howells: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

Pupil Exclusions

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many exclusions there were relating to illegal drugs in each of the last 10 years in English secondary schools.

Derek Twigg: This information is not held centrally. We started to collect reasons for exclusions in relation to the summer term 2003 and these termly data collections are continuing. One category of reason for exclusion is involvement with drugs and alcohol. However, because of concerns over the reliability of the first set of data, the full data on reasons for exclusion, including those that were drug and alcohol-related, were not published in the Experimental Statistics First Release (ESR 01/2004), a copy of which is in the Library. The next Statistical First Release on exclusions will be published in May 2005.
	Our guidance states that a head teacher can exclude a pupil permanently for supplying an illegal drug and that the Secretary of State would not normally expect the governing body or an appeal panel to reinstate such a pupil. Illegal drugs have no place in schools and harm children's learning, health and behaviour. We have made clear that we support head teachers and governing bodies together with local partners including the police in their efforts to tackle illegal drugs in schools.

Religious Education

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what rights parents have to withdraw their children from religious education lessons in state schools; and if she will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: Parents of all pupils in state schools have the statutory right to withdraw their children from all or any part of RE and or collective worship.

School Computers (Derby)

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding has been spent on computers for schools in Derby, north in each year between 1997 and 2004.

Derek Twigg: The Department does not hold information on funding for ICT at constituency level. However, Derby north is in Derby LEA and allocations for this authority, since 1998, are detailed in 'Funding for ICT in Schools in England' which is available in the House Library.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the contracts signed by her special advisers differ from the Model Contract for Special Advisers.

Derek Twigg: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 17 January 2005, Official Report, column 753W.

Stolen Property

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many civil servants from her Department have (a) faced disciplinary proceedings as a result of allegations of theft, (b) been charged with theft and (c) been dismissed following theft allegations in each year since 1997.

Derek Twigg: All breaches of the Department's expected standard of conduct are handled in accordance with the Civil Service Management Code and the Department's code of conduct. All staff are informed about standards of conduct on the Department's induction course, and can access the relevant guidance through the Staff Handbook.
	My Department has dismissed one member of staff for theft since it was established in 2001. There have been no other disciplinary proceedings for theft in that time.

University Admissions

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the meetings she and her Ministers have had with the Director of Fair Access.

Kim Howells: I and the previous Secretary of State, Charles Clarke, have each had one brief introductory meeting with Sir Martin Harris, the Director of Fair Access, since his appointment.

University Admissions

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her most recent estimate is of the cost of setting up the independent person or panel with responsibility for reviewing decisions made by the Office for Fair Access.

Kim Howells: The Department has followed the guidance set by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) for this vacancy. The estimated cost of the recruitment process, including advertising costs, is £6,000. We hope to announce the name of the independent reviewer shortly.

University Admissions

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the latest figures are for online application to university; and what steps she has taken to evaluate consumer satisfaction with the process.

Kim Howells: As at 11 January 2005, some 200,000 applications for higher education entry in 2005 had been registered with the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) via their online application service, 'ucasapply'. This compares with about 79,000 registrations at the same point last year. The majority of registrations (76 per cent.) were via schools. UCAS has announced that is gearing up to be able to handle over 450,000 electronic applications a year.
	I understand that UCAS have arrangements in place to evaluate customer satisfaction with the online application service, and are developing additional ones. In addition to information on how to use ucasapply, schools were sent a questionnaire to gain feedback on their experience of usage. Of those schools that had used ucasapply, 71 per cent. of respondents felt they had all the information they needed, and over 56 per cent. felt that it had cut down the amount of time staff spent on administering applications compared with previous paper-based applications. Schools that have not yet used ucasapply have cited lack of time to learn how to use the online system as the main reason. UCAS has contacted those falling in this category and offered them further support.

University Admissions

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to her answer of 21 December 2004, Official Report, column 1719W, on university admissions, whether she plans to publish the conclusions of her review.

Kim Howells: As I have said previously, I intend to look at the benchmarks to see if there is any way they can be improved or better understood. I will, of course, share any outcomes from this work at the appropriate time.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Bangladesh

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding has been provided by his Department after the first year in relation to the commitment announced in January 2004 to spend £100 million in Bangladesh in support of primary education in that country over six years; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The Department for International Development has provided a total of £8.845 million (US$15.852 million) in the first year of support to the Primary Education Development Programme in Bangladesh.

E-mails

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his Department's policy regarding the retention of e-mails in electronic form (a) after and (b) up to 1 January 2005; and what instructions have been given regarding the deletion of e-mails prior to 1 January 2005.

Hilary Benn: I refer the hon. Member for Lichfield to the response given to the hon. Member for Guildford (Sue Doughty) on this subject by my hon. Friend, Gareth Thomas, on 12 January 2005, Official Report, column 533W.

Palestine

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance he has offered to the Palestinian authorities to train their Police Force; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID has developed a £2 million programme of support to the Palestinian Civil Police which aims to help meet immediate operational priorities, and in parallel facilitate longer-term transformational change. Since April 2004, a senior UK police officer seconded to DFID has been working in the region as a Police Adviser and DFID has provided over 50 urgently needed police vehicles (with additional funding of £700,000) as well as some communications, computer and other police equipment. Operational support will help deliver urgently needed equipment and training that will enable the police to patrol the streets effectively and deliver better services to Palestinian people.
	In the medium term the Civil Police will only maximise their effectiveness if they engage in a process of organisational change. DFID's assistance will help the Palestinians develop a policing strategy, structures and management capacity to undertake such change. From January 2005, support is being co-ordinated by a European Union Co-ordination Office for Palestinian Police Support which is headed by the seconded UK Police Adviser.

Telephone Usage

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much revenue his Department has received from the use of non-geographic 0870 telephone numbers for the period 1 October 2003 to 30 September 2004.

Hilary Benn: DFID has no 0870 telephone numbers, and therefore does not receive any such revenue.

Tsunami Relief

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will break down UK assistance to the tsunami-hit area by (a) debt relief, (b) direct aid, (c) bilateral aid and (d) donations in kind.

Hilary Benn: In response to the tsunami disaster which followed the earthquake in South East Asia, the Department for International Development has committed £75 million towards the immediate humanitarian needs. This assistance is being channelled through United Nations agencies, the Red Cross Movement, non-governmental organisations and by DFID direct action. To date, this includes the sum of £4,665,090 for DFID donations in kind. Our total DFID bilateral aid in 2003–04 to the countries that have been affected by the tsunami was £395,689,000. These are the latest figures available. DFID does not have bilateral aid programmes in all the stricken countries: a breakdown of assistance by country is detailed as follows.
	On debt relief, Sri Lanka has been added to the list of countries eligible for the UK's multilateral debt relief initiative. The UK will pay 10 per cent. of its debt service costs to the International Development Association (IDA), which amounts to approximately $5.5 million in 2005, $5.8 million in 2006 and $6.2 million in 2007. Paris Club creditors have agreed not to expect repayments from affected countries that request it until the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have completed a full needs assessment of their reconstruction and financing requirements. It is not possible to quantify the value of any relief at this stage as the technical terms remain to be discussed with those countries that apply.
	
		UK bilateral aid to countries affected by Asia tsunami: 2003–04 -- £000
		
			  Financial aid (excluding ATP) 
			  Project or sector aid Programme aid Technical cooperation Aid and trade provision 
		
		
			 Bangladesh 10,177 — 31,643 — 
			 Burma 4 — 175 — 
			 India 102,646 55,000 36,097 — 
			 Indonesia 1 — 10,305 6,559 
			 Kenya 1,084 — 14,081 — 
			 Malaysia 252 — 4 — 
			 Maldives — — 20 — 
			 Seychelles 10 — 1 — 
			 Somalia 15 — 12 — 
			 Sri Lanka 7 — 7,390 — 
			 Tanzania 23,451 41,250 9,401 — 
			 Thailand 181 — 53 — 
		
	
	
		
			  Financial aid (excluding ATP) 
			  Grants and other aid in kind Humanitarian assistance(9) DFID Debt Relief(10) Total DFID programme 
		
		
			 Bangladesh 14,055 — — 55,874 
			 Burma 2,964 578 — 3,720 
			 India 4,384 1,399 — 199,526 
			 Indonesia 583 — — 17,449 
			 Kenya 10,602 53 — 25,820 
			 Malaysia — — — 256 
			 Maldives 179 — — 199 
			 Seychelles — — — 12 
			 Somalia 781 3,165 — 3,973 
			 Sri Lanka 636 67 — 8,099 
			 Tanzania 4,880 1,500 — 80,482 
			 Thailand 45 — — 279 
		
	
	
		
			  Other programmes 
			  CDC investments Other Total gross public expenditure 
		
		
			 Bangladesh 99,981 — 155,855 
			 Burma — — 3,720 
			 India 45,839 — 245,365 
			 Indonesia — — 17,449 
			 Kenya 2,881 5 28,706 
			 Malaysia — — 256 
			 Maldives — — 199 
			 Seychelles — — 12 
			 Somalia — — 3,973 
			 Sri Lanka 1,445 — 9,544 
			 Tanzania 82,069 — 162,551 
			 Thailand — 5 285 
		
	
	(9) Humanitarian assistance comprises food aid and other humanitarian assistance.
	(10) This comprises both interest and principal foregone under Retrospective Terms Adjustment. Amounts reported are repayments which would have fallen due each year.
	Note:
	This is mainly non-DFID debt relief, but also includes contributions from other Government Departments to CSOs, British Council and Global Conflict Pool, and small amounts of drug related assistance funded by the Home Office and FCO.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Alcohol-related Crime

David Davis: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what local authority Best Value performance indicators in relation to alcohol-related crime (a) were complied in 2003–04 and (b) will be compiled in (i) 2004–05 and (ii) 2005–06.

Nick Raynsford: In 2003–04, one Best Value Performance Indicator (BVPI) was set in relation to alcohol related crime. BVPI 127 records the number of violent crimes per 1,000 population. This figure is further broken down to separately show acts of violence which occur in connection with a licensed premises and acts of violence committed under the influence of an intoxicating substance. The same data will be collected for 2004–05. Details of the BVPIs which will apply in 2005–06 will be announced shortly.

Central Government Funding

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much central Government funding was allocated to the London borough of Havering in (a) 1997, (b) 1999, (c) 2001 and (d) 2002.

Nick Raynsford: The amount of central Government funding allocated to the London borough of Havering in the years specified is tabled as follows.
	
		Government revenue funding to LB Havering
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 1997–98 120,663 
			 1999–2000 137,320 
			 2001–02 160,585 
			 2002–03 166,805 
		
	
	The data are outturn figures and are as reported by the local authority. The grants included are special and specific grants inside Aggregate External Finance, revenue support grant and redistributed non-domestic rates.

Central Government Funding

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much central Government money the London borough of Havering received per citizen in 2003–04.

Nick Raynsford: In 2002–03, the London borough of Havering received £744 of central Government revenue funding per citizen. The data are outturn figures for 2002–03 and are as reported by the local authority. The grants included are special and specific grants inside Aggregate External Finance, revenue support grant and redistributed non-domestic rates.
	Outturn data are not yet available for 2003–04.

Civil Service Property

George Osborne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many items of civil service property within his Department are unaccounted for, broken down by type.

Yvette Cooper: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will obtain from the Chairman of the Audit Commission a reply to the letter sent to the Chairman on 4 November 2004 by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. J. White.

Nick Raynsford: The Chair of the Audit Commission has advised that, following receipt of the letter of 4 November 2004, his office had spoken to my right hon. Friend's office and agreed no response was needed in the light of a letter sent by Manchester city council to my right hon. Friend also on 4 November 2004.
	If my right hon. Friend still has concerns about his constituent's case then the Audit Commission will be happy to look into it.

Council Tax

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average cost of an appeal against council tax banding was in the last period for which figures are available.

Nick Raynsford: The average cost of an appeal against council tax banding in 2003–04 was approximately £340 (of which £300 relates to the Valuation Office Agency and £40 relates to the Valuation Tribunal Service).

Disabled Facilities

Gregory Barker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what assessment has been made of the merits of abolishing the Disabled Facilities Grant means test for children in England and Wales;
	(2)  what representations he has received regarding the possible abolition of the disabled facilities grant means test for children in England and Wales;
	(3)  if he will abolish the Disabled Facilities Grant means test for children in England and Wales.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, jointly with the Department of Health and the Department for Education and Skills is undertaking a comprehensive review of the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) programme. The Review will look at the operation and outcomes of the DFG Programme and make proposals to improve its efficiency and fairness. This will include a review of the DFG means test.
	A wide range of representations have been received from interested parties including MPs, local authorities and parents of disabled children. These will be considered as part of the Review which will report to Ministers in May.
	A similar, but separate, review is also being undertaken by the Welsh Assembly.

Electronic Devices

George Osborne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many electronic devices are owned by the Department, broken down by type.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not hold the information requested centrally and could only provide it at disproportionate cost.
	All expenditure incurred by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in the purchase and procurement of services and items is made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Government Accounting. Where possible purchases of electronic devices are made through centrally negotiated contracts.

E-mails

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his Office's policy regarding the retention of e-mails in electronic form (a) after and (b) up to 1 January 2005; and what instructions have been given regarding the deletion of e-mails prior to 1 January 2005.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Guildford (Sue Doughty) on 10 January 2005, Official Report, column 221W.

Fire Service

Philip Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many fire and rescue authorities in England have substantially abandoned the 2–2-4 shift pattern since the introduction of the integrated risk management plans.

Nick Raynsford: As far as the Office Deputy Prime Minister is aware, none of the draft Integrated Risk Management Plans published for consultation have moved away from the 2–2-4 shift pattern since the introduction of the Integrated Risk Management Planning system. However, a number of fire and rescue authorities are reviewing their crewing arrangements.

Fire Service

Philip Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many beds have been removed from fire stations in England as a result of the implementation of Integrated Risk Management Plan 1 plans.

Nick Raynsford: A number of Fire and Rescue Authorities had proposed in their Year 1 Integrated Risk Management Plans to remove beds from certain fire stations. However, to date as far as the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is aware, none has done so.

Living Spaces Programme

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to reopen the Living Spaces programme for fresh applications.

Phil Hope: Living Spaces was set up as an innovative approach to helping communities make tangible and lasting changes to their local environment. Due to the large demand from community groups for support from Living Spaces, funding for the three-year programme has been exhausted and, therefore, there are currently no plans to reopen the scheme for fresh applications. We are working across Government and elsewhere to ensure that Living Spaces, or a similar type of funding scheme, will continue in the future.
	The lessons learnt from the success of Living Spaces will help to inform future policies and programmes that seek to involve local people in improving the quality of their local communities.

Local Elections

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost to public funds was of (a) producing and (b) mailing the manifesto booklet for the (i) 2000 and (ii) 2004 Greater London Authority elections.

Nick Raynsford: Following late amendments made in the Other Place to the Greater London Authority Act 1999, the Government was required to provide Mayoral and Assembly candidates with free distribution of electoral material during the 2000 elections. This set a precedent for future GLA elections and the provision was therefore included in the 2004 Election Rules.
	In 2000, the total cost to public funds of producing and distributing the Mayoral election booklet was £1.3 million. Of that, £850,000 was for postage.
	In 2004 the Greater London Returning Officer was responsible for planning and organising the GLA election. He has indicated that the public cost of the design and printing of all election publications was £1.012 million. Postage costs came to almost £521,000.

Local Government Reform

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the timescale is for publication of further consultation papers on reform of local government.

Nick Raynsford: Last July, the Government launched a debate on the future of local government with the publication of "The future of local government: Developing a 10 year vision". As part of this debate, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister intends to publish discussion papers on neighbourhood engagement and local leadership at the end of January. We expect to publish a further paper on the performance framework in the spring.

Mobile Phone Masts

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to review the advice on the location of mobile phone masts near schools; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Mobile phone mast and base station developments near schools are subject to the normal planning regulations in place throughout England, unless exempted by the regulations set out in Part 24 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (GPDO). The planning arrangements for telecommunications developments were significantly strengthened in 2001 and include improved requirements for consulting local people about mast proposals. The changes to the GPDO were underpinned by revised guidance, set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 8, Telecommunications. The changes to the planning guidance also underlined that school governors must be consulted on all proposals for new masts on or near a school or college. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently considering the NRPB report on Mobile Phones and Health 2004 and will respond once we have considered them fully.

Mobile Phone Masts

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidelines he has issued on consultation with (a) schools and (b) the public on the location of mobile phone masts; and how many applications have (i) conformed and (ii) failed to conform to the guidelines since their inception.

Yvette Cooper: A Code of Best Practice on Mobile Network Development has been produced to provide clear and practical advice to ensure the delivery of significantly better and more effective communication and consultation between operators, local authorities and local people. It provides more detailed advice than is contained in Planning Policy Guidance Note 8 on Telecommunications (PPG8) about how local communities and particularly schools and colleges should be consulted in relation to telecommunications developments. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has commissioned a study to assess the impact that the Code has had since its introduction, how local authorities have implemented the Code and how the public perceives its operation.
	The specific information requested is not held centrally by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and could provide it only at disproportionate cost.

Mobile Phone Masts

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many mobile phone masts in England are located within a 200 m radius of a school, broken down by local authority area; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not hold the information requested centrally and could provide it only at a disproportionate cost.

Mobile Phone Masts

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the impact on house prices of the erection of mobile phone masts; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has made no assessment of the impact on house prices of the erection of mobile phone masts.
	In respect of potential impacts of proposed telecommunications development on property values, PPG 1 notes that it is not for the planning system to protect the private interests of one person against the activities of another. Although in a particular case considerations of public interest may serve to protect private interests, the material question is not whether a particular development would cause financial or other loss to owners and occupiers of the neighbouring property, but whether the proposal would have a detrimental effect on the locality generally, and on amenities that ought, in the public interest, to be protected.

Mobile Phone Masts

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will institute an immediate review of the planning process for the siting of mobile phone masts as called for in the National Radiological Protection Board report.

Yvette Cooper: The Government have welcomed the timely review undertaken by the National Radiological Protection Board which was published on 11 January. The report made many recommendations about mobile phones and health, including two relating to planning procedures. We are studying the recommendations and will respond once we have considered them fully.

Mobile Phone Masts

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will revise planning procedures with regard to mobile telephone masts to enable local authorities to consider possible health implications.

Yvette Cooper: The Government are carefully considering the judgment on 13 November 2003 by the Court of Appeal in the case of "First Secretary of State v. T-Mobile and others" and the report entitled "Mobile Phones and Health 2004" published by the National Radiological Protection Board on 11 January which both make reference to the extent to which local planning authorities can take health concerns into account in decisions about the siting of mobile phone base stations.

MOD Land

Mike Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 15 December 2004, Official Report, column 1119W, on MOD land, when the first audit of the arrangement will take place; and if he will make the results publicly available.

Keith Hill: There are no separate auditing arrangements planned for the framework agreement announced in November 2004 between English Partnerships and Defence Estates on surplus Defence land. The agreement will be monitored and reviewed annually as part of these organisations normal operations. Separate monitoring arrangements will be established for any project arising from the agreement.

Planning

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average time taken to process a planning appeal by the Planning Inspectorate was in (a) 1997 and (b) the latest year for which figures are available.

Keith Hill: The average time taken to process a planning appeal in England between the 1 January and 31 December 1997 was 24.0 weeks. During this period 14,455 appeals were received.
	In the period 1 January to 31 December 2004 the average time taken to process a planning appeal was 25.7 weeks. During this period 25,237 appeals were received.

Planning

Bob Russell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will give guidance to planning authorities not to determine planning applications related to earlier applications which are the subject of an ombudsman investigation; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: It is for the local planning authority to consider how to deal with the planning proposals it receives, including any repeat applications, and to take appropriate advice on the facts and circumstances of individual cases where necessary. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister sees no need to issue general guidance on this point.

Right to Buy

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many applications have been submitted for right to buy for local authority dwellings in each English local authority since 1997.

Keith Hill: Annual figures on council right to buy applications from 1997–98 to 2000–01 as reported by local authorities are available from the Local Housing Statistics publication series (Tables 3a (1998–99) and 3b (1997–98) from Issue no. 128 (1998–99), Table 3 from Issue no. 129 (1999–2000) and Issue no. 130 (2000–01).
	The figures for 1999–2000 to 2002–03 are available from the housing statistics section on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's internet site.
	The web link for 1999–2000 to 2001–02 information is http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_control/documents/contentservertemplate/odpm_index. hcst?n=1680&l=4 [Housing-Housing Statistics-Publications-Local Housing Statistics-Annual Statistics].
	The web link for 2002–03 information is http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_housing/documents/page/odpm_house_029535.xls [Housing-Housing Statistics-Live Tables-Social Housing Sales-Table no 648].

Social Housing

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his estimate is of the total number of (a) social housing units for rent and (b) low cost home ownership units that will be built or acquired (i) with Housing Corporation social housing grant, (ii) with transitional local authority social housing grant and (iii) without public subsidy in 2004–05.

Keith Hill: The following table sets out the forecast number of units to be provided in 2004–05 for rent and low cost home ownership with funding from the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme (ADP), transitional local authority social housing grant (LASHG). It also shows the Department's current estimates of the units which could be provided without public subsidy.
	
		
			  Rent Low cost home ownership 
		
		
			 ADP 16,952 10,048 
			 LASHG 4,356 608 
			 Without public subsidy 1,200 2,600 
			 Total 22,508 13,256 
		
	
	Where schemes are joint funded with ADP and transitional LASHG these units are recorded against the ADP line.

Social Housing

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what his policy is towards the findings of the Barker Review regarding the number of additional new social housing dwellings that need to be provided each year in the UK;
	(2)  if he will set a target for the proportion of new homes to be provided in the Sustainable Communities Plan that will be social housing.

Keith Hill: My right hon. Friends the Deputy Prime Minister and the Chancellor, in their initial response to Kate Barker's report in March 2004, accepted the case for increased investment in social housing and undertook to address this in the 2004 Spending Review.
	The funding provided in the Spending Review 2004 is planned, along with efficiency improvements, to produce 75,000 social rented homes and 40,000 homes for essential public sector workers and low cost home ownership over the three years to 2007–08.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not set targets at local level. The Government believe that local authorities are best placed to carry out local housing needs assessments. The Government's policy on planning and affordable housing is clearly set out in planning policy guidance, which provides a strong framework for the provision of affordable housing and requires local authorities to undertake local housing needs assessments and formulate development plan policies to meet the community's needs for housing, including an element of affordable housing on suitable sites.

Social Housing

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what systems he is putting in place to monitor the delivery of planned improvements to properties transferred under (a) large scale voluntary transfer, (b) arms length management organisations and (c) private finance initiative schemes.

Keith Hill: The arms length management organisations (ALMO), large scale voluntary transfer (LSVT) and private finance initiatives (PFI) for housing revenue account (HRA) housing programmes are intended to achieve the Government's decent homes PSA 7 target by December 2010 and to deliver wider improvements to social housing stock and services. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will be tracking progress against the decent homes target through local authority, ALMO and registered social landlord (RSL) monitoring returns and the English house condition survey (EHCS).
	In addition, each programme has its own monitoring and evaluation system to track annual progress and provide longer-term assessments of the outcomes and value for money of the different programmes. The monitoring and evaluation systems apply to LSVTs from the 2001 programme onwards, all ALMO rounds, and all PFI for housing revenue account schemes. The systems collect a range of data to track progress towards the decent homes target, delivery of promises to tenants, tenant satisfaction, delivery of housing services, and linkages to wider estate and area regeneration. Where possible, these systems are based on data that is already collected by individual schemes to reduce the burden of further data collection.

Social Housing

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) registered social landlord dwellings and (b) local authority dwellings there were in England in (a) 1997 and (b) the most recent year for which figures are available.

Keith Hill: The latest available figures are tabled as follows:
	
		Number of dwellings in England at 31 March -- Thousand
		
			  1997 2003 
		
		
			 (a) registered social landlord 985 1,621 
			 (b) local authority 3,401 2,457

Social Housing

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the amount of local authority housing stock which will be transferred in each of the next five years.

Keith Hill: All local authorities are required to complete by July 2005 an options appraisal for the delivery of decent homes within their housing stock by 2010. This process will identify the most appropriate route, which may be to pursue a housing transfer. Based on recent trends it is estimated that this may bring forward between 50,000 and 150,000 dwellings transferring annually up to 2007–08. This number should then reduce annually as decent home delivery vehicles are put in place.

Social Housing

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the eligibility requirements of local authority tenants for the right to buy; and how the discount is calculated.

Keith Hill: The information requested has been made available in the Library of the House.

Stolen Property

George Osborne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the property belonging to his Office that has (a) been stolen and (b) been reported lost in each year since 1997, broken down by type of article.

Yvette Cooper: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Unitary Local Government

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans the Government have to introduce unitary local government in England.

Nick Raynsford: At present there are no plans to reorganise local government in England—the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is however aware of the debate about unitary local government that is going on and will listen carefully to this.

HEALTH

Local Improvement Finance Trust

Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the recent progress of the NHS local improvement finance trust (LIFT) programme.

Stephen Ladyman: There are now 51 NHS Local improvement Finance Trusts (LIFT) across the country, with four buildings open to patients in East London and Barnsley. I am pleased to report that the first LIFT building in my hon. Friend's constituency is due to open in February.

General Practitioners (Hartlepool)

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase the recruitment and retention of general practitioners in Hartlepool.

Miss Johnson: Recruitment and retention of GPs in Hartlepool is a matter for the local Primary Care Trust. I can inform you that the PCT currently has seven vacancies for GPs. It has employed eight salaried GPs to provide capacity where it has not been possible to attract principal GPs to practices. The PCT has also been working with the County Durham and Tees Valley strategic health authority to develop international recruitment of GPs. Under the national initiatives, new GPs in Hartlepool will receive the higher rate Golden Hello payment.

Acute Hospital Services (West Cumbria)

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on acute hospital services in West Cumbria.

Miss Johnson: The North Cumbria Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is currently publicly consulting upon future models of acute hospital services for the whole of North Cumbria, including West Cumbria. The local population have opportunities to comment as part of the consultation process. The model includes maintaining acute hospital services in Carlisle and West Cumbria.

Nurses

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses were working in the NHS on 1 January; and how many there were on 1 January 1997.

John Hutton: In 1997, 318,856 nurses were employed in the NHS. In 2004. this figure had increased to 396,359, an increase of 77,500.

Primary Care Trusts

Dave Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what methodology will be used for the allocation of health funding to primary care trusts after 2006.

John Hutton: The weighted capitation formula will be used to determine each Primary Care Trust's (PCTs) target share of available resources. Work on the precise allocations for each PCT covering the period 2006–07 to 2007–08 is ongoing.

Mental Health

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of mental health patients in Derbyshire have a care plan.

Stephen Ladyman: Information on the proportion of mental health service users who have a care plan is not collected centrally. However, the Trent strategic health authority reports that all service users, of working age accepting a service from Derbyshire Mental Health Services NHS Trust, have a Care Programme Approach Care Plan.

General Practice Premises

Ian Cawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for HealthTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practice premises have been improved since 1997.

John Hutton: We began collecting data on the improvement of GP premises in April 2000. The latest available figures are at September 2004 and show that 2,471 GP premises have been replaced or refurbished.

Health Needs

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the allocation of funding for health to recognise the needs of different socio-economic groups.

John Hutton: A weighted capitation formula is used to determine each primary care trust's (PCTs) target share of available resources, to enable them to commission similar levels of health services for populations in similar need.
	The new funding formula introduced from 2003–04 gives much greater weighting to the needs of deprived communities.

Dental Laboratories

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of the new dental contract on dental laboratories; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: An early analysis indicated a reduction in laboratory work but did not reach any firm conclusions and we are therefore continuing to analyse the effects of PDS on dental laboratories.

Worcestershire Royal Hospital

Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of activity levels at Worcestershire Royal hospital; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Worcestershire Royal hospital is part of the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.
	During 2003–04, there were 97,612 finished consultant episodes at the Trust. An increase of 0.06 per cent. on the previous year, when there were 92,091.

Mental Health Bill

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish the code of practice for the draft Mental Health Bill.

Rosie Winterton: We plan to publish the first draft of the Code of Practice for England when the Bill is formally introduced into Parliament.

NHS Consultants

Andy King: To ask the Secretary of State for Health To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultants were working in the NHS (a) on 1 January 2005 and (b) on 1 January 1997.

John Hutton: The latest information on consultant numbers is as at 30 June 2004, when there were 30,171 consultants employed in the NHS. This is an increase of almost 8,700 (41 per cent.) from 21,474 in September 1997.

Intermediate Care Wards

Laura Moffatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effects of dedicated intermediate care wards on the recovery of patients.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department of Health, with the Medical Research Council, is funding three research projects on intermediate care costing £1.5 million. Two of the research projects are looking generally at the provision, impact and cost of intermediate care services, with a third focusing on the role of community hospitals in promoting independence. The projects will be completed in the near future and the findings will be made available on the Department of Health's research website.

"Agenda for Change"

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress of implementation of "Agenda for Change in the NHS".

John Hutton: Assimilation to the new pay system commenced from 1 December 2004, and around 1,000 staff were assimilated onto Agenda for Change in that month. The rate of assimilation is expected to accelerate significantly in the early months of 2005.

Antidepressants

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking (a) to encourage primary care trusts to commission alternatives to drug treatments for depression and anxiety and (b) to encourage general practitioners to prescribe such alternatives.

Rosie Winterton: The National Service Framework for mental health contains two standards for primary care mental health designed to support commissioning and delivery of effective care and treatment, including non-drug treatments.
	In addition, the Department published guidance in 2001 "Treatment choice in psychological therapies and counselling" on the effective non-drug treatments for a range of conditions, including guidance specifically designed for primary care. The Department has also more recently published "Organising and Delivering Psychological Therapies" (July 2004) to provide more of an impetus for practitioners, providers and local commissioners to review and improve the delivery of psychological therapy services. Louis Appleby's report (December 2004) "NSF MH—five years on" sets out plans for the future direction of access to psychological therapies, which the National Institute for Mental Health in England will lead on.
	To encourage GPs to prescribe and support alternatives to drug treatments the NHS Plan (2000) contained recommendations concerning the commissioning of 1,000 'graduate' primary health workers to support the delivery of effective psychological interventions for common mental disorders to be appointed by December 2004. The National Institute for Mental Health for England is also supporting primary care commissioners through their primary care mental health programme, and through their programme promoting choices for service users.

Bleeding Disorders

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what measures are being taken to raise awareness among (a) health care professionals and (b) the wider public of bleeding disorders affecting women;
	(2)  what steps he plans to ensure that those affected by von Willebrand disease are correctly diagnosed.

Melanie Johnson: The Department provides core funding to the Haemophilia Society. In November last year the Haemophilia Society held a conference for health care professionals on women's bleeding disorders to help raise awareness.
	The United Kingdom haemophilia centre doctors organisation working parties have published new peer reviewed guidelines, for the treatment and diagnosis of von Willebrand disease and for rare inherited haemostatic disorders, in 2004.

Chiropody Services

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of access to chiropody services for senior citizens.

Stephen Ladyman: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Broxbourne (Dame Marion Roe) earlier today.

Community Pharmacies

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many community pharmacies in each London borough (a) opened and (b) closed in each year since 2000–01; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Information regarding the number of community pharmacies by London borough is not collected. However, the number of community pharmacies by health authority/primary care trusts per London strategic health authority is available.
	The table shows a breakdown of community pharmacy openers and closures by London SHA between 2000–01 to 2002–03.
	
		Number
		
			  2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
			 London strategic health authority Openers Closures Openers Closures Openers Closures 
		
		
			 North Central London 0 0 1 1 0 0 
			 North East London 0 4 0 1 0 0 
			 North West London 0 7 0 1 3 4 
			 South East London 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 South West London 0 2 0 0 0 3 
			 Totals 0 13 1 3 3 7

Cost-effective Prescribing

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether general practitioners are encouraged to let patients know if a drug they are prescribing is available more cheaply over the counter; and what rules or guidelines govern this area of practice.

Rosie Winterton: Generally, we expect general practitioners to issue national health service prescriptions to meet an identified clinical need for their NHS patients. However, if an appropriate treatment is available over the counter the GP might advise a patient that the product is available directly from a pharmacist, particularly if the patient was not exempt from paying prescription charges. This would only apply to patients who are not exempt from paying prescription charges. This is a discretionary matter for the GP.

Dentists

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding his Department has allocated for increases in the number of NHS dentists in England by October 2005.

Rosie Winterton: The Department has provided funding to meet the service cost of the increase in dentists. £50 million was made available to the national health service last year to address local dental access issues. £3.8 million has been committed to recruit Polish dentists. The NHS is also engaging in local recruitment activity, funded from its own baseline allocation.

Domestic Violence

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's publicity budget for domestic violence awareness is in the current year; what his Department's expenditure on domestic violence awareness was in each of the last six years; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: In the past four years, the Department has not had a dedicated budget for domestic violence awareness. However, in 2000 the Department spent £40,000 on printing "Domestic Violence (A Resource Manual for Health Care Professional". We are currently in the process of updating the manual.
	Information prior to 2000–01 can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department is dedicating resources to domestic violence. We have appointed a national domestic violence co-ordinator to help the Department contribute to the cross-Government agenda, and have supported both financially and administratively, the national conference on domestic violence held in October 2004.

East Sussex Hospitals Trust

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of hospital-acquired infections have been diagnosed in the East Sussex Hospitals Trust in the last 12 months.

Rosie Winterton: There are no nationally collated data on hospital acquired infections for individual acute national health service trusts.

Incapacity Benefit

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce free prescriptions for claimants in receipt of incapacity benefit; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: We have no plans to introduce free prescriptions for claimants in receipt of incapacity benefit. It is the Department's policy to offer help with health costs based on a person's income, for example, to those receiving income support. As incapacity benefit is not income-based, it will not entitle a person to free prescriptions automatically but recipients may be entitled to help by making a claim under the national health service low income scheme.

IT Projects

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list his Department's IT projects in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) amount spent, (b) purpose, (c) cost of over-run and (d) time of over-run.

Rosie Winterton: The Department does not hold records for information technology projects completed before the financial year 1999–2000. Details of IT projects costing £100,000 or more, completed in the financial year 1999–2000 onwards, listed by amount spent, purpose and time overrun, have been placed in the Library.
	The Department's project monitoring processes do not routinely identify costs specific to time overruns. A detailed analysis of project records for relevant projects would be required to calculate these costs. This exercise would involve disproportionate cost and has not been undertaken.

Local Tobacco Alliances

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the role is of local tobacco alliances; what projects they deliver; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: Local tobacco alliances have a key role locally working alongside key partners such as trading standards, environmental health, Customs and Excise and smoking cessation co-ordinators.
	Alliance projects are developed in collaboration with priorities such as addressing health inequalities, reducing people's exposure to secondhand smoke and supporting the work of the national health service stop smoking services. In future this will also include delivery of the White Paper "Choosing Health".

Medical Negligence Report

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to implement the recommendations of the report, Making Amends, by the Chief Medical Officer on medical negligence (2003).

Rosie Winterton: The "Making Amends" consultation ended on 17 October 2003. The responses are being used to help further develop detailed policy proposals. An announcement will be made in due course.

Mobile Phones

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he is offering to the parents of young children on their access to and use of mobile phones; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: Our advice to parents of children and young people under 16 on the use of mobile phones is set out in the leaflet "Mobile phones and Health", available on the Department of Health website http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/Publications/fs/en). It states "the UK Chief Medical Officers strongly advise that where children and young people do use mobile phones, they should be encouraged to:
	use mobile phones for essential purposes only
	keep all calls short"
	The advice adds that "if parents want to avoid their children being subject to any possible risk that might be identified in the future, the way to do it is to exercise their choice not to let their children use mobile phones."
	A new report from the National Radiological Protection Board issued on 11 January 2005 entitled Mobile Phones and Health 2004 (Docs of the NRPB, Volume 15, No. 5) recommends that limiting the use of mobile phones by children remains an appropriate precautionary measure. Copies of the report have been placed in the Library and are available on the NRPB website www.nrpb.org.

MRSA

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have suffered long-term illness as a result of contracting MRSA infections in each of the last 10 years.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 17 January 2005
	This information is not held centrally, and cannot be obtained without incurring disproportionate costs.

Neuro-radiologists

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the NHS capacity is of specialist neuro-radiologists.

John Hutton: The Department does not collect data at sub-specialty level. Neuro-radiology is a sub-specialty of clinical radiology.
	As at June 2004, there were 1,859 consultant clinical radiologists, an increase of 417 or 29 per cent. since September 1997. The number of staff within the registrar group has also increased by 290 or 56 per cent. between September 1997 and September 2003.
	These increases will increase the pool from which specialist neuro-radiologists may be drawn.

Overseas Recruitment

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how his Department assesses whether or not a country has a surplus of a particular healthcare profession when considering overseas recruitment.

John Hutton: We have close relationships with the British embassies with whom we liaise before considering international recruitment. The Department has a number of Government-to-Government agreements with countries who have indicated they are happy for us to work with them to internationally recruit healthcare staff and is committed to an ethical approach to international recruitment.

Prostate Cancer

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to reduce the prevalence of prostate cancer; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: Experts do not know the underlying cause of prostate cancer. We do know that the largest risk factor is age, with family history, ethnicity, diet and some occupational factors also playing a role. There has also been an increase in the number of prostate cancer being detected. Experts do not know if this is due to an increased risk of prostate cancer or to an increase in testing for prostate cancer. The lengthening of life expectancy may also have a role in this increase.
	We do know that prostate cancers can be broken down into slow growing, non-aggressive and fast growing, aggressive types. The vast majority of prostate cancers are slow growing and will not cause any harm to the man in his lifetime. The fast growing account for approximately 20 per cent. of prostate cancers and if left untreated will cause harm.
	The dilemma has been that we do not know how to distinguish between the fast and slow growing types. That is why we promised to spend £4.2 million on research into prostate cancer by 2003–4, which was achieved. This was part of the NHS prostate cancer programme, published in September 2000. In addition to enhancing research into prostate cancer, the Programme also aimed to improve the early detection of prostate cancer and to improve treatment and care for patients with prostate cancer.
	Good progress has been made, and is reflected in the report 'Making progress on prostate cancer', published in November 2004. A copy is available in the Library.
	We have also set up the prostate cancer advisory group (PCAG), chaired by Professor Mike Richards, the national cancer director. The overall remit of PCAG is to facilitate collaboration between the Department and patient and professional groups. PCAG is taking forward work on the pubic awareness of prostate cancer, information for prostate cancer patients, improving the treatment of prostate cancer, and developing a national prostate cancer website.

Recovered NHS Costs

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to recover a greater proportion of NHS costs from those responsible for (a) road accidents, (b) accidents at work and (c) other accidents; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Under the provisions contained in the Road Traffic (NHS Charges) Act 1999, national health service hospitals can recover costs for treating those injured in road traffic accidents who receive personal injury compensation. The scheme recovers around £105 million per year, which is paid directly to the hospitals that have provided treatment.
	Part three of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 contains the legislative framework for expanding the scheme to include recovery of NHS hospital and ambulance services costs in all cases where personal injury compensation is paid. The Department has recently consulted on the draft regulations that will govern the operation of the expanded scheme. Ministers are currently considering the outcome of this consultation, which closed on 17 December 2004.

Regional Tobacco Control Managers

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 30 November 2004, Official Report, column 111W, on regional tobacco control managers, what expenditure has been allocated to regional tobacco control managers since May 2003 for the funding of local tobacco alliances.

Melanie Johnson: Amounts allocated to each Government Office for the Region (GOR) for tobacco control and funding of alliance work are set out in the following table.
	
		
			 GOR 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 North East 194,000 194,000 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 218,000 217,000 
			 North West 242,000 242,000 
			 West Midlands 221,000 221,000 
			 East Midlands 206,000 206,000 
			 Eastern 217,000 217,000 
			 South East 241,000 241,000 
			 South West 214,000 214,000 
			 London 247,000 248,000 
			 Total 2,000,000 2,000,000

Supermarket Meat (Salt)

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the health implications of the adding of salt to meat by supermarkets to increase weight; and what representations he has made to supermarkets regarding this practice.

Melanie Johnson: A high intake of salt in the diet is linked to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. The Food Standards Agency has held discussions with the British Retail Consortium and others on the practice of adding salt to meat and meat products and the importance of clear labelling. In conjunction with the agency, I have also held discussions with individual supermarket companies regarding the salt content of processed foods and the need for reductions across product categories.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Child Support Agency

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his timetable for transferring the live caseload of the Northern Ireland Child Support Agency to the new Child Support Scheme is.

John Spellar: In line with the Child Support Agency in Great Britain, the Northern Ireland Child Support Agency has been processing new applications using the new computer system and the new legislation since March 2003.
	The introduction of the new computer system has not been without its problems. Therefore, existing cases will be transferred to the new scheme only when the Minister for the Department of Work and Pensions is satisfied that the new computer system is working well. No decision has been made as to when this will happen.

Child Support Agency

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the performance of (a) the Eastern Business Unit and (b) the Northern Ireland operations of the Northern Ireland Child Support Agency during 2004–05 in securing maintenance on behalf of children.

John Spellar: The following information is provided in respect of the performance of Eastern Business Unit for 2004–05:
	Eastern Business Unit have cleared around 22,000 cases of which 13,000 have resulted in calculation of maintenance.
	Up to the end of December 2004 around 8,500 first payments have been received from non-resident parents and around 4,000 payments of child maintenance premium.
	Up to the end of December 2004 Eastern Business Unit had collected £10.7 million in maintenance.
	The following information is provided in respect of performance of the Northern Ireland Child Support Agency for 2004–05:
	The Northern Ireland Agency have cleared around 3,500 cases of which 1,800 have resulted in calculation of maintenance.
	Up to the end of December 2004 around 1,500 first payments have been received from non-resident parents and around 1,000 payments of child maintenance premium.
	Up to the end of December 2004 the Northern Ireland Agency had collected £1.4 million in maintenance.

Children's Fund

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much extra funding has been provided to the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for 2005–08 to allow for the mainstreaming of services funded under the Children's Fund.

Angela Smith: Children and families remain a priority for Government. All projects funded under the current three-year Children's Fund cycle will receive their full allocation from existing Children's Fund monies. No resources have been specifically provided for 2005–08 to mainstream the services currently provided by existing Children's Fund projects when this funding cycle is complete.
	The Budget settlement for 2005–08 has allocated some £15 million over the period for a capital Modernisation Fund. This will be administered by DSD and Children's organisations will be able to apply for support from this fund.

Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will extend the provision of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: There are no plans to extend directly the provisions of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill to Northern Ireland, principally because there are significant differences in the existing legislative base and the powers of central and local government in Northern Ireland. However, I will wish to consider whether similar legislative proposals should be brought forward for Northern Ireland.

Disabled Facilities

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of abolishing the Disabled Facilities Grant means test for children in Northern Ireland.

John Spellar: The abolition of the Disabled Facilities Grants means test for parents of children with disabilities came into effect from 16 February 2004 and during the first 9 months, to October 2004, 49 applications for grant-aid were received from parents with disabled children. The Housing Executive estimates that annually prior to the amendment 25–30 such applications would have been made and, when the changes have been in operation for a full year, it intends to carryout an assessment to determine how many of the applicants would previously have had to make a contribution.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average unit cost is to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland of processing an application for (a) a driver's licence, (b) a vehicle licence, (c) a taxi licence and (d) a road freight licence; what the comparable figures were for the last four financial years; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The information requested is as follows. My reply to question 208583 given today, sets out the plans to review current fee levels.
	
		Average unit cost (£)
		
			  2003–04 2002–03 2001–02 2000–01 
		
		
			 Driver licensing 15.89 15.69 14.38 16.20 
			 Vehicle relicensing(11) 3.26 3.07 2.95 2.58 
			 Taxi driver and vehicle licensing 39.15 47.87 42.94 (12)— 
			 Road freight and road service licensing 46.10 48.25 48.44 (12)— 
		
	
	(11) This unit cost excludes first licence costs which are included as part of the cost of the first registration transaction.
	(12) Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland took over financial responsibility for taxi, road freight and road service licensing in April 2001.
	All of the above are calculated on full costs with the exception of vehicle relicensing which is on a cash basis only.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he has taken to reduce and eliminate the financial deficit on processing licences by Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: Due to a revised method of funding introduced in 2004, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) now leads on drivers fees for the whole of the UK. DVLA will address the deficit on DVLNI's driver fees account through the payment of a subsidy.
	In order to address the deficit in taxi licensing operations, the fee for taxi vehicle licensing increased on 1 November 2004. Taxi driver licensing fees are currently under review.
	For road freight and road service licensing a fees review is planned for 2005–06.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to change the levels of licensing fees currently charged by Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland has fees for driver licences, taxi vehicle licences, taxi driver licences, road freight licences and road service licences.
	Due to a revised method of funding introduced in 2004, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) now leads on drivers fees for the whole of the UK. DVLA has issued a public consultation on proposed changes to driver fees. If agreed these revised fees would apply UK wide.
	Taxi licence fees were increased in November 2004. A further review of taxi driver licence fees is underway.
	Road freight and road service fees will be reviewed in 2005–06.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his planning estimate is of the expected income of Driving and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland in (a) 2004–05, (b) 2005–06, (c) 2006–07 and (d) 2007–08 from (i) driver licensing fees, (ii) vehicle licensing fees, (iii) taxi licensing fees and (iv) road freight licensing fees.

Angela Smith: The information is as follows.
	
		DVLNI forecast income -- £000
		
			 Licensing fees 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 
		
		
			 Driver 2,400 3,926 3,765 3,423 
			 Vehicle (13)— (13)— (13)— (13)— 
			 Taxi 450 700 700 700 
			 Road freight and road  service 400 400 400 400 
		
	
	(13) Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland (DVLNI) acts as agents of the Secretary of State for Transport in the collection of vehicle excise duty (VED) and related fees. The income from VED and related activities does not form part of DVLNI income and is forecasted and accounted for by DVLA, an agency within the Department for Transport.
	Note:
	All forecast fee income is based on current fee levels.

Eating Disorders

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funding has been set aside for establishing eating disorders services in the Province.

Angela Smith: £1 million has been secured for 2004–05 to develop community-based specialist eating disorders teams within each board area, which will be managed within an appropriate 'regional care network'.

Eating Disorders

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients from Northern Ireland with eating disorders have required treatment outside the Province in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: The number of patients from Northern Ireland with eating disorders who have had treatment outside the Province is detailed in the following table.
	
		
			 Financial year Number of patients from Northern Ireland who received treatment outside the Province 
		
		
			 2003–04 20 
			 2002–03 12 
			 2001–02 12 
			 2000–01(14) 4 
			 1999–2000(14) 6 
		
	
	(14) Information for Northern Health and Social Services Board is not available for 2000–01 and 1999–2000 and is therefore excluded from these figures.
	Note:
	Figures refer to those residents of Northern Ireland with eating disorders who have received treatment outside the Province.
	Source:
	Health and Social Services Boards

Environmental Protection

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will set up an Environmental Protection Agency for Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The main environmental functions in Northern Ireland are delivered by the Environment and Heritage Service (EHS), an executive agency within the Department of the Environment. EHS was established in 1996 following consideration by Government of the options available.
	In November 2004, a coalition of NGOs, following a public consultation exercise which they had carried out, recommended to me that an independent inquiry be set out; this inquiry would look at, among other things, the arguments for establishing an Environment Protection Agency in Northern Ireland which would carry out the functions which currently lie with EHS.
	I am considering, together with my ministerial colleagues, how best to respond to this recommendation, bearing in mind wider political developments.

Environmental Protection

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which statutory agency provides a (a) pollution and (b) environmental damage hotline in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: To encourage the reporting of pollution incidents in Northern Ireland, Environment and Heritage Service (EHS), an executive agency of the Department of the Environment, operates a freefone pollution response system that is available to the public at all times. During office hours, all calls made to the freefone water pollution hotline number (0800 80 70 60) are directed to an operations room in Belfast, where the incident is assessed and passed to the relevant field staff for investigation and relevant action. Outside office hours, all calls are directed to an Environment Agency communications centre, which then tasks the on-call duty emergency pollution officer in Northern Ireland to respond.
	To date a hotline dealing with reports of other environmental damage has not been established in Northern Ireland. However, in the light of recent events, the need to extend emergency reports arrangements has been identified and a system for reporting damage to protected areas is currently being devised. It is hoped to have new arrangements in place in the near future following which they will be fully publicised.

Health Service Employees

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many health service employees were suspended from work in the Province in each of the last five years; what the average time off work of such individuals was; and what total costs were incurred as a result of such suspensions.

Angela Smith: This information is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

HIV

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many individuals were diagnosed with HIV in Northern Ireland in 2004.

Angela Smith: The most recent figures available indicate a total of 31 new first-UK diagnoses of HIV in Northern Ireland in 2004 (until 30 September 2004). Figures for the final quarter of the year are not yet available.
	This figure is provisional and is liable to change as further reports for this period are received.

Junior Doctors

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether fluid management is taught in induction training for all junior doctors who commence posts in paediatric medicine in the Province.

Angela Smith: The topic of fluid management is included as part of the induction process for junior doctors who commence posts in paediatric units.

Learndirect

David Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of (a) Learndirect, (b) Enterprise Ulster and (c) Worktrack.

Barry Gardiner: The answer is as follows:
	(a) Learndirect
	In November 2003 the Department for Employment and Learning commissioned a review of its relationship with the University for Industry (UfI)/learndirect. The report, presented in May 2004, identified a number of positive findings; for example, that UfI/learndirect supported the widening access agenda. However, the review also identified several areas of major concern including poor support for learner tracking or progression, and a decrease in 'on-line' learning from 80 per cent. in 1999 to 20 per cent. in 2003–04.
	(b) Enterprise Ulster (EU)
	A review of Enterprise Ulster commenced in September 2004 focusing on Enterprise Ulster's role and performance. The draft report is due to be presented to the Department in December.
	(c) Worktrack
	An evaluation of Worktrack was completed in May 2002, which concluded that, with some modifications there was a continuing need for the programme, at that time. Since then, the economic climate has improved, unemployment is at a very low level and there are more job opportunities. The programme is therefore considered to have a lower priority than other competing demands. The costs of an employment placement under Worktrack are also high. There is other provision available to assist people into work and significant resources available to increase skills through higher and further education.

Learndirect

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been allocated from public funds on learndirect in (a) North Belfast and (b) Northern Ireland in each year since 2000.

Barry Gardiner: The Department for Employment and Learning allocated funding as follows for learndirect in North Belfast since 2000:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2000–01 75,000 
			 2001–02 180,000 
			 2002–03 132,000 
			 2003–04 95,000 
		
	
	The total funding claimed by centres in Northern Ireland since 2000 are:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 2000–01 1.5 
			 2001–02 1.5 
			 2002–03 3.0 
			 2003–04 3.0

Learndirect

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have benefited from Learndirect in (a) North Belfast and (b) Northern Ireland.

Barry Gardiner: Since the introduction of Learndirect in March 2000, 43,544 people have undertaken learning through the network of Learndirect centres in Northern Ireland this includes 2,394 learners in centres in North Belfast.

New Deal

John Hume: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of people in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) Foyle constituency entered paid employment within six months of completing each New Deal and Worktrack programme in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Barry Gardiner: The percentage of people in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) Foyle Consistency entering paid employment within six months of leaving the two main New Deals and the Worktrack programme are as follows.
	
		Participants moving into employment (April 2003-March 2004) within six months of leaving the programme
		
			 Programme All leavers Into employment Percentage into employment 
		
		
			 (a) Northern Ireland 
			 New Deal 18 to 24 8032 2214 28 
			 New Deal 25 + 6946 1348 19 
			 Worktrack 2337 581 25 
			 
			 (b) Foyle
			 New Deal 18 to 24 1124 242 22 
			 New Deal 25 + 711 97 14 
			 Worktrack 261 21 8 
		
	
	Note:
	Leavers include those who leave at any stage of the New Deal programme.

Occupational Therapy

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to reduce the Occupational Therapy Assessment waiting list in the Newry and Mourne health trust area.

Angela Smith: Newry and Mourne health and social services trust has advised that waiting times for occupational therapy assessments have been affected by difficulties in filling vacancies in the service. Action is being taken to overcome these. In addition, an Activity of Daily Living (ADL) clinic has been set up and this has already made an impact on the waiting list. For those unable to travel to the clinic, domiciliary visits are being arranged in the near future to assess their needs.

Parliamentary Questions

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will reply to the question tabled by the hon. Member for Birkenhead on 16 December 2004, reference 206617.

Ian Pearson: I replied to my hon. Friend's question on 17 January 2005.

Private Surgery

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of patients in Northern Ireland waiting for (a) hip replacement surgery, (b) knee replacement surgery and (c) other surgery went on to have the operation carried out privately in each of the past five years, broken down by local health board area.

Angela Smith: The information requested is not available.

School Absence

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to be able to publish school statistics that distinguish between authorised and unauthorised absence in Northern Ireland.

Barry Gardiner: Authorised and unauthorised absence data were collected for the first time from post-primary schools in October 2004. These data are currently being verified with each school, as part of a quality assurance process to ensure consistency of recording across all schools. I expect to be able to release figures by early autumn 2005.
	I anticipate that figures for primary schools will be available by summer 2007.

School Absence

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what analysis the Government have made of the prevalence of unauthorised absence from school among (a) different types of school in Northern Ireland, (b) Catholic children and (c) Protestant children, respectively.

Barry Gardiner: Figures on unauthorised absence are not yet available.

Septic Tanks

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what plans he has to regulate the level of charges for the emptying of septic tanks in Northern Ireland after April 2006;
	(2)  what plans he has to encourage competition in the provision of emptying services for septic tanks in Northern Ireland after April 2006.

John Spellar: New legislation is being developed to implement the agenda for reform of water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland. The legislation will establish the duties and responsibilities for the proposed Government owned company, and the desludging of septic tanks is one of the many issues under consideration. It is anticipated that consultation on this draft legislation will begin during the first half of 2005.

Social Services Funding

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criteria the Department for Health, Social Services and Public Safety uses to set priorities in relation to (a) children in need, (b) family policy and (c) child protection for the Budget round for 2005–08; and what discussions it has had with key stakeholders in (i) boards, (ii) trusts and (iii) the voluntary sector.

Angela Smith: Current bids in the area of children in need, family policy and child protection have been based on wider government policy. Extensive discussions have taken place with Board and Trusts Chief Executives and Directors of Finance and Planning as to the impact of the draft Budget proposals on the provision of Health and Social Services in 2005–08. These discussions have identified a potential way forward to ensure the continued delivery of existing services and ensure that reform and modernisation takes place across the entire HPSS, to improve services.
	Voluntary Organisations have contributed to Budget 2004 through the OFMDFM/DFP consultation process but formal discussions have not taken place between the Department and these organisations.

Strangford Lough

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the ploughing of the intertidal mudflats at Strangford Lough over the Christmas and new year period; and what assessment he has made of the impact of that activity on the Lough's ecosystem.

Angela Smith: On Tuesday 28 December 2004 and Monday 3 January 2005, several hectares of the intertidal mudflats at Strangford Lough were ploughed by agricultural tractors. The Environment and Heritage Service of the Department of the Environment was informed of the damage on Monday 3 January 2005 and the damage was subsequently, and continues to be, investigated by its staff.
	The ploughing activity and the resulting damage covered an extensive area of the shore. Furrows which had obviously been washed by several tides and two areas of completely fresh ploughing, within the zone in which eel grass (Zostera) grows, were clearly visible. Consequently the Department commissioned an urgent scientific assessment of the damage. This will assist the Department in deciding what further action needs to be taken including whether the matter should be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Strangford Lough

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what payments are made to the National Trust to provide a warden and other related services in and around Strangford Lough; what services the National Trust undertake to provide in return with particular reference to (a) personnel and (b) equipment; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The Environment and Heritage Service currently provides the National Trust with £72,650 per annum to support its Strangford Lough Wildlife Scheme. This contributes to the cost of four wardening staff. It also contributes to overheads, transport, machinery, materials, volunteer expenses and administration. Site integrity monitoring, co-ordination of biological monitoring and practical management to maintain and enhance species and habitats all form part of the National Trust's work. In addition the National Trust provides public access, educational programmes and interpretion about the Lough and its wildlife.

Strangford Lough

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action (a) he and (b) other public bodies for which he is responsible propose to take in respect of the ploughing of the intertidal mudflats at Strangford Lough over the Christmas and new year period; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The Environment and Heritage Service is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the ploughing of the intertidal mudflats at Strangford Lough over the Christmas and new year period. An urgent scientific assessment of the damage has been commissioned. This will assist the Department in deciding what further action needs to be taken including whether the matter should be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Strangford Lough

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to ensure that signs in and around Strangford Lough indicate those areas designated as areas of special scientific interest; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: As part of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the recent damage caused to Strangford Lough mudflats, the Department is considering how best to strengthen public understanding of the international importance of the Strangford Lough area for nature conservation. There is already a set of modern interpretation boards in place round the Lough. Modifications of these, and additional signs, will both be considered.

Sure Start

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to ensure that the restructured Sure Start project in north Belfast incorporates best practice from the Home Start model in using volunteers to support families.

Angela Smith: One of the core services to be delivered through Sure Start is home visiting but how that service is provided in a restructured project will be determined largely by the findings of the community consultation exercise carried out by the project in relation to the needs of local parents and children aged 0–3.

Sure Start

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to ensure that a multi-agency approach in service delivery is central to the proposed new Sure Start model.

Angela Smith: The Department remains fully committed to the principle of multi-agency partnership within Sure Start. It is important that the composition of any Sure Start project reflects a wide range of expertise and input from all sectors in the planning and managing of its services.

Titanic Quarter

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects a management plan for the development of the Titanic Quarter to be ready for consultation; and what consultation will be undertaken prior to the approval of such a management plan.

John Spellar: Titanic Quarter Ltd. is currently preparing a masterplan, in conjunction with Belfast Harbour Commissioners, for the development of the Titanic Quarter site and has consulted interested parties, including Belfast city council, the Department for Regional Development and Planning Service. The masterplan is being developed within the context of the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan, and individual development proposals will be subject to consultation in accordance with the normal statutory planning process. I understand that the masterplan will be available shortly; the timing is a matter for Titanic Quarter Ltd.

Transitional Employment Scheme

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment has been made of the Transitional Employment Scheme; what plans the Government has to introduce these schemes on a permanent basis; and if he will make a statement.

Barry Gardiner: The Department for Employment and Learning introduced the Transitional Employment Programme (TEP) in October 2003, on a pilot basis, as part of Targeted Initiatives in a small number of areas chosen because of their higher than average incidence of long term unemployment and social deprivation. The Department plans to commission an interim evaluation of the programme early in 2005–06 with a final evaluation to be carried out in 2006–07 financial year. Decisions about the future of TEP will be taken after full consideration of a final report.

University Finance

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money has been allocated to (a) Queen's University and (b) the University of Ulster to encourage access and participation in each of the last three years.

Barry Gardiner: Over the last three academic years, the Department for Employment and Learning has allocated funding to Queen's University, Belfast (QUB) and the University of Ulster (UU) through a range of specific funding streams aimed at widening access and participation. The amounts allocated under each funding stream are set out in the following table.
	
		£
		
			  Academic years 
			  2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
			  QUB UU QUB UU QUB UU 
		
		
			 Additional funded places 1,519,98 1,773,71 854,238 769,638 707,348 513,060 
			 Premium for students from disadvantaged backgrounds 381,854 458,146 518,472 621,528 443,460 696,540 
			 Premium for students with disabilities 43,664 157,863 91,826 105,298 99,161 181,728 
			 Widening Participation special initiative 181,740 57,286 63,930 92,277 54,810 4,472 
			 Special initiative to improve provision for students with  disabilities 42,221 42,155 41,748 19,101 27,995 34,028 
			 Foundation Degree development costs 75,000 75,000 — — — — 
			 Disability access capital 800,001 956,038 500,000 450,000 2,617,79 1,223,25

Veterinary Medicines

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the recent seizure by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety of unauthorised and counterfeit veterinary medicines.

Angela Smith: During 2004 the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety was involved in a lengthy investigation into the illegal distribution and sale of unlicensed veterinary medicinal products, This investigation, undertaken with the Police Service of Northern Ireland, uncovered substantial evidence of an illegal manufacturing operation of these unlicensed medicines and also of a counterfeit product.
	The products uncovered were mainly antibiotic preparations intended for food-producing animals. Their unauthorised use could pose a significant threat to human health through unacceptable levels of drug residues in food, and the potential for the growth of microbial resistance to essential human medicines. A file on this has now been passed for consideration to the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.

Victims Groups

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what sums have been given to each victims' group in the Province in each year since April 1998.

Angela Smith: Records show that funding detailed in the table as follows has been allocated to organisations involved in providing support for victims between April 1998 and March 2004. A year by year breakdown of these figures for each group is not available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	In addition to the amounts shown, victims' groups may also apply for funding from any programme or scheme, such as the District Council Community Relations Programme or European Union funding through the Local Strategy Partnerships, for which they can satisfy the relevant eligibility criteria.
	
		
			 Victims' organisation Amount allocated (£) 
		
		
			 123 House 127,767 
			 Aisling Centre 122,060 
			 Alanna Consultancy 1,790 
			 An Crann 63,500 
			 Ardoyne Commemoration 9,800 
			 Armagh Voluntary Welfare Group 5,000 
			 Ashton Community Trust 1,327,201 
			 Association for Family Therapy NI 6,100 
			 Ballybone, Belfast 2,100 
			 Ballymoney District Partnership (Victims) 16,000 
			 Ballymurphy Centre 226,232 
			 Bannside Community Group 5,000 
			 Barnardo's 70,050 
			 Base 2 25,375 
			 Befriending and Counselling 4,397 
			 Belfast Cognitive Therapy Centre 54,775 
			 Breaking the Silence 4,998 
			 Community Action for Locally Managed Stress (CALMS) 493,159 
			 Centre for Creative Energy, Londonderry 1,310 
			 Claudy 9,123 
			 County Tyrone Frontier Relief Fund 2,000 
			 Coleraine/Ballymoney UDR 118,060 
			 Colleague Support Group 3,100 
			 Columba Community 123,343 
			 Combat Stress 4,000 
			 Community Council 2,240 
			 Community Foundation for Northern Ireland 10,000 
			 Community Relations Council 38,357 
			 Conflict Trauma Resource Centre 73,165 
			 Contact Youth 71,215 
			 Conway Education Centre 2,500 
			 Cookstown Colleague Support 2,165 
			 Corpus Christi Services 387,913 
			 Corrymeela Community 7,500 
			 Cost of the Troubles Study 97,251 
			 CRUSE (Foyle) 35,000 
			 CRUSE Bereavement (NI) 74,915 
			 CRUSE Bereavement Care (Belfast) 28,000 
			 CRUSE (Causeway) 2,500 
			 Cumann Tar Abhaile 22,171 
			 Cunamh 415,688 
			 Dairy Farm Jobclub 102,410 
			 Democratic Dialogue 7,485 
			 Derry and Raphoe Action 61,000 
			 Derry City Council 2,500 
			 Derry Well Women 62,356 
			 Disabled Police Officers Association (DPOA) 161,447 
			 Divis Centre 1,005 
			 Eastern Health & Social Services Board Trauma Advisory Panel 99,590 
			 Families of the Displaced, Dispersed and Disappeared (FODDD) 117,836 
			 Families Achieving Change Together (FACT) 431,882 
			 Families Acting for Innocent Relatives (FAIR) 553,165 
			 Families for Truth and Justice 800 
			 Family Trauma Centre 704,062 
			 Fermanagh College 69,600 
			 Fermanagh South Tyrone Terrorist Victims Association 96,738 
			 Firinne 248,078 
			 Friends of WAVE 2,304 
			 Give Innocent Victims Equality (GIVE) 5,200 
			 Glencree LIVE Programme—The Restorick Group 750 
			 Greater Belfast Community Network 96,710 
			 Greater Twinbrook and Poleglass Community Forum 10,000 
			 Healing Through Remembering 10,000 
			 Help and Advice with Victims Every Need (HAVEN) 114,687 
			 Holy Trinity 130,787 
			 Holywell Trust 16,329 
			 Homes United by Ruthless Terrorism (HURT) 151,100 
			 HOPE 500 
			 Innocence, Truth and Justice 980 
			 Institute for Counselling and Personal Development (ICPD) 579,552 
			 Interact 5,000 
			 Interchurch Group on Faith and Politics 600 
			 Irish Peace Institute 6,000 
			 Koram Centre 97,184 
			 Lenadoon Community Counselling Project 216,409 
			 Lifeline 14,000 
			 Lifeways Psychotherapy and Counselling Centre 252,211 
			 Lisburn Prisoners Support Project 111,349 
			 Loughgall Truth and Justice Campaign 7,200 
			 Lower North Belfast Community Group 2,000 
			 Make Your Mark 57,838 
			 Mid Ulster Survivors Trust 1,000 
			 Mourne Action for Survivors of Terrorism (MAST) 36,225 
			 New Life Counselling Service 284,561 
			 Nexus Institute 22,392 
			 NI Association for Mental Health 95,824 
			 NI Memorial Fund 6,926,578 
			 NI Music Therapy Trust 29,284 
			 NI Prison Service 600 
			 NICRA 1,000 
			 North and West Belfast Trust 20,000 
			 Northern Health & Social Services Board Trauma Advisory Panel 101,500 
			 NI Centre for Trauma and Transformation (NICTT) 1,500,000 
			 NOVA 320,489 
			 Omagh Independent Advice Services 31,657 
			 Omagh Support and Self Help Group 17,740 
			 Passionist Youth 94,800 
			 Pat Finucane Centre 10,376 
			 Police Rehabilitation and Retraining Trust 20,000 
			 Positive Action 91,218 
			 Prison Service Trust 64,160 
			 Regimental Association UDR 63,839 
			 Relatives For Justice 778,497 
			 Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID) 280,787 
			 Rural Network 2,000 
			 Seeds of Hope 2,500 
			 Shankill Stress and Trauma Group 463,596 
			 Sligo Presbyterian 6,000 
			 South Down Action for Healing Wounds (SDAHW) 184,973 
			 South East Fermanagh Foundation 92,220 
			 South Tyrone Empowerment Programme 9,995 
			 South West Community Victims 5,000 
			 South/North Armagh Victims Encouraging Recognition (SAVER/NAVER) 481,516 
			 Southern Health & Social Services Board Trauma Advisory Panel 114,220 
			 Sperrin Lakeland Trust 12,132 
			 Springhill Community House 167,621 
			 Springvale Training 106,262 
			 Stepping Stone, Craigavon 55,000 
			 Stewartstown and District Support Group 1,110 
			 Strabane Befriending and Counselling Association 243,609 
			 Streetbeat Youth Project 135,908 
			 Sub Committee for Victims 216,121 
			 Support, Training, Education, Employment, Research (STEER) Mental Health 120,521 
			 Survivors of Trauma 637,260 
			 Tar Anall 113,300 
			 Tar Isteach 141,650 
			 Tara Counselling and Personal Development Company Ltd. 353,384 
			 The Bloody Sunday Trust 84,765 
			 The Church's Ministry of Healing 18,000 
			 The Cross Group 11,395 
			 The Ely Centre 142,757 
			 The Royal British Legion (Upperlands Branch) 2,000 
			 The Samaritans, Belfast 8,000 
			 The Samaritans, Coleraine 7,000 
			 The Wider Circle 158,998 
			 Threshold 3,000 
			 Towards Healing and Understanding 5,500 
			 United Services Club 81,073 
			 Victims Support (NI) 52,000 
			 Victims and Survivors Trust (VAST) 343,612 
			 VOICE 24,900 
			 Voices Women's Group 17,054 
			 WAVE Belfast(15) 2,818,345 
			 WAVE Armagh(15) 85,684 
			 WAVE Ballymoney(15) 62,127 
			 WAVE Omagh(15) 76,122 
			 WAVE Londonderry(15) 96,936 
			 West Belfast Cross Community Partnership 48,700 
			 West Tyrone Voice (WTV) 489,172 
			 Western Enterprise Social Legal and Educational Victims Trust 3,950 
			 Western Health & Social Services Board Trauma Advisory Panel 135,491 
			 Women Together 11,641 
			 Yes! 5,000 
			 Total 27,957,111 
		
	
	(15) WAVE Trauma Centre has a network of five branches around Northern Ireland. Major amounts of funding, such as Peace II (£1.39 million) cannot be accurately allocated among the individual locations and have been credited to the Belfast office.
	Note:
	The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland (formerly Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust) also received £1,123,324 through the EU Special Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (Peace I), which supported victims of violence. The Foundation allocated these funds in support of a number of projects for both ex-offenders and victims. Persons from these groups could benefit from the same project and it is not possible to disaggregate the assistance between the two groups.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Airwave

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what health and safety checks have been made to guarantee the well-being of police officers using the Airwave communications system; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The National Radiological Protection Board's independent Advisory Group on Non-Ionising Radiation (AGNIR) recommended that the Home Office should ensure that emissions from Airwave handsets and vehicle-mounted sets are within international guidelines. Accordingly, the Home Office specified that the maximum transmission power levels should be either 1 Watt (for handsets) or 3 Watts (for vehicle-mounted sets). Independent checks have found that emission levels from Airwave equipment are within international guidelines.
	We also commissioned a programme of research on the advice of AGNIR into the remaining areas of uncertainty surrounding the health and safety effects of the TETRA technology that underpins Airwave. This research is nearing completion and has not identified any adverse health effects.
	We have also taken forward the AGNIR recommendation for a long-term health monitoring study of police users of Airwave: Imperial College is carrying out this study on behalf of the Home Office.

Birmingham Repertory Theatre

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  whether he received an opinion from West Midlands Police on their ability to guarantee the safety of the audience and staff of the Birmingham Repertory Theatre on 21 December, were the theatre to continue to perform the play Behzti; and what assessment he has made of West Midlands Police's capacity to guarantee the audience's safety on 21 December;
	(2)  what discussions (a) he and (b) his officials held with West Midlands Police between 18 and 20 December on whether the police were able to guarantee the safety of the audience and staff of the Birmingham Repertory Theatre in the event of productions of the play Behzti on 20 December and subsequently; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Chief Constable of the West Midlands Police assured the Home Office on 20 December that he would police any demonstrations in the event of performances of the play Behzti on 20 December and subsequently. The role of the police in policing demonstrations is to preserve the peace, to uphold the law and to prevent the commission of offences.
	It is a long-standing tradition in this country that people are free to gather together and to demonstrate their views provided that they do so within the law. However, there is no excuse for violent protest and we totally condemn the violence that was seen outside the Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

Football Banning Orders (Essex)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many football banning orders have been issued by (a) Essex police and (b) Southend police in each year since 1997.

Caroline Flint: Football banning orders are imposed by courts, not by police forces. Currently 39 individuals resident in Essex are subject to football banning orders. These football banning orders were made in the following years:
	
		
			  Number of current football banning orders 
		
		
			 2000 1 
			 2001 0 
			 2002 6 
			 2003 13 
			 2004 19

Cycling

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cyclists were (a) cautioned and (b) charged for (i) going through red lights and (ii) cycling in the dark without lights in the last period for which figures are available.

Caroline Flint: Charges may not lead to proceedings. Statistics of defendants charged with crimes are not collected centrally.
	There were two pedal cyclists cautioned and 38 proceeded against at magistrates courts in England and Wales 2003 for the offence of neglect of traffic directions (which will include failing to stop at traffic signals).
	There were 25 cyclists cautioned and 213 proceeded against at magistrates courts in England and Wales 2003 for lighting and reflector offences.
	Statistics on the numbers of cautions and prosecutions in 2004 will be available in autumn 2005.

European Data Protection Supervisor

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the (a) mandate and (b) powers of the European Data Protection Supervisor in respect of tackling fraud.

Christopher Leslie: I have been asked to reply.
	The European Data Protection Supervisor has no specific role in respect of fraud matters, except in those circumstances where fraud may raise issues about the adequacy of protection of individual's personal data within the community institutions and bodies.

Firearms Act

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many appeals have been brought against the Chief Constable of Humberside police under section 44 of the Firearms Act 1968 (as amended) since 29 October 2003; and how many were (a) dismissed, (b) allowed and (c) abandoned.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is not collected by the Home Office.

Gun Crime

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of gun crime have taken place in Greater London in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis reports that the total number of gun enabled crime offences is as follows:
	
		
			 12 months to October: Number of offences 
		
		
			 2002 4,543 
			 2003 4,143 
			 2004 3,683 
		
	
	The figures cover the whole of the metropolitan police district. The latest published figures show an 11 per cent. fall over the previous 12 month period.
	Intelligence-led Operations such as Trident and Trafalgar are having excellent results. The work of these dedicated police operations, with the guidance and support of the Independent Advisory Group, demonstrates the high level of commitment to remove guns from our streets.
	In support of this work, the government and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) are taking forward work on all aspects of gun crime, including targeting the drugs supply markets which often drive the use of firearms; prevention work, including support for community projects through the Connected Fund and by the use of recycled criminal assets; and by working with prolific offenders.

Identity Cards

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the image capture standards provided to police forces under the Facial Images National Database project.

Caroline Flint: Yes. Copies of the image capture standards paper titled "Police Standard for Still Digital Image Capture and Data Interchange of Facial/Mugshot and Scar, Mark and Tattoo Images", prepared by the Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) to police forces in England and Wales, will be placed in the Library.
	The draft standards are currently with the Association of Chief Police Officers for its agreement on behalf of police forces.

Initiatives (Funding)

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what budget was allocated to (a) the Active Communities Unit, (b) the Arson Control Forum, (c) each of the Local Arson Control forums, (d) the Central Police Training and Development Authority and (e) each of the Community Cohesion Pathfinders in each of the last two years; and how many staff each organisation employed in each year.

Hazel Blears: The information is as follows:
	(a) The budget for the Active Communities Unit in the financial year 2003–04 was £91 million (including £10 million for "futurebuilders") with 45 staff and in 2004–05 it was £145 million (including £57 million for "futurebuilders") with 41 staff.
	(b) The budget for the Arson Control Forum in the financial year 2003–04 was £2.250 million and in 2004–05 it was £4.5 million. The forum does not employ staff directly.

Mobile Phones

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been fined under the offence of using a hand-held mobile phone while driving; how many people have contested the fines; and what revenue has been raised through fines, broken down by (a) month and (b) police authority region.

Caroline Flint: Data on police action (written warnings, fixed penalty notices and court proceedings) for 2003 on the new offence of driving while using a hand held mobile telephone will not be available until early 2005. Information on appeals and revenue raised through fines is not collected centrally by the Home Department.
	2004 data will be published in autumn 2005.

Police Vehicles

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the measures taken by Cleveland Police Authority to install recording equipment in police vehicles to monitor how they are driven; and what plans he has to encourage other police authorities to install such recording equipment.

Caroline Flint: There are two basic types of recording equipment that might be fitted to police vehicles: incident, or collision, data recorders (IDRs) and journey data recorders (JDRs). IDRs are fitted to a vehicle for the capture and short-term storage of data from on-board sensors. Their primary aim is to assist in establishing what occurred prior to and during a collision. They can be used to supplement physical evidence for incident reconstruction and act as an 'independent witness' in the event of a collision. JDRs give management information on a vehicle's performance. They are typically used by fleet managers to monitor vehicle usage and efficiency.
	The fitting of such recording devices is a local operational matter. The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) does however recommend that forces consider such a course. We welcome this. Several forces have fitted devices, some on a pilot trial basis and others as permanent attachments to their vehicles. Some are collecting data on their performance, though where their attachment is part of a package of measures it might be difficult to identify the performance of individual elements.

Policing Costs

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) cost and (b) total operational time lost as a result of police officers being withdrawn from duty in each police force for the purpose of policing (i) demonstrations and (ii) football matches was in each of the last five financial years.

Caroline Flint: This information is not held centrally.

Prisons

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what services are provided by the voluntary sector in contracted-out prisons; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: There are over 100 voluntary and community sector service providers working across the contracted out prisons. Many of the organisations are multi-service providers and work in more than one prison, others tend to be local and work with individual establishments. While it is not possible to list all the services these organisations provide, the following list is a guide to some of the key areas where services are delivered. This will be placed in the Library.

Sniffer Dogs

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sniffer dogs have been used by the police and security services in each of the last five years; and how many of these animals have died prematurely while in service.

Caroline Flint: The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) informs me that approximately 2,220 police dogs were in service at the end of 2004. 134 police dogs were retired during that year, and 26 died prematurely while in service. Information is not available for previous years. It has been the policy of successive Governments to neither confirm nor deny questions concerning the activities of the security and intelligence services.

Speed Cameras

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many motorists were (a) fined and (b) banned from driving as a result of the evidence of speed cameras in the West Derbyshire constituency in each of the last five years; and how much money was raised from fines in each year (i) in total and (ii) in Derbyshire.

Caroline Flint: Available information on the number of fixed penalties and court fines ordered to be paid and on the number of persons disqualified from driving for speeding offences detected by camera in 1998 to 2002 (latest available) within the Derbyshire police force area is shown in tables A and B respectively. Information on the revenue raised from speeding offences is not available centrally but data are given in the table on the amount of fines imposed by the courts and on the estimated revenue from fixed penalties.
	It is not possible from the data collected centrally to identify the constituency of West Derbyshire within the geographical area of the Derbyshire police force.
	
		Table A: Fines and fixed penalty data for speeding offences detected by camera(16)(17), in the Derbyshire police force area, 1998–2002
		
			  Court proceedings(18) Fixed penalties 
			  Number of fines Total amount of fine (£) Average fine Number of tickets(19) Estimated revenue (£)(20) 
		
		
			 1998 1,310 119,500 91 10,600 424,000 
			 1999 1,230 112,500 92 8,500 340,000 
			 2000 870 77,000 89 8,100 351,000 
			 2001 790 69,000 88 10,100 606,000 
			 2002 610 69,000 114 33,700 2,022,000 
		
	
	(16) Automatic cameras until 1998, all camera types from 1999.
	(17) Offences under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and The Motor Vehicles (Speed Limits on Motorways) Regulations 1973.
	(18) Includes cases where fixed penalty notices were originally issued but not paid and subsequently referred to court.
	(19) Paid ie no further action.
	(20) Estimate based on £40 fixed penalty charge to October 2000. From November 2000 the penalty was raised to £60.
	
		Table B: Number of persons disqualified(21) from driving at all courts for speeding offences detected by camera(22)(23) in the Derbyshire police force area, 1998–2002
		
			  Persons disqualified 
		
		
			 1998 9 
			 1999 9 
			 2000 7 
			 2001 18 
			 2002 9 
		
	
	(21) Excludes persons disqualified under s.35 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (penalty points system).
	(22) Offences under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and The Motor Vehicles (Speed Limits on Motorways) Regulations 1973.
	(23) Automatic cameras until 1998, all camera types from 1999.

CABINET OFFICE

Constitutional Treaty

John Cryer: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what guidance has been issued to civil servants regarding providing public information on the proposed Constitutional Treaty for the European Union;
	(2)  what guidance he plans to issue to the civil service on its role (a) prior to and (b) during the referendum on the Constitutional Treaty for the European Union;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with the Cabinet Secretary regarding the role of the civil service prior to and during the proposed referendum on the Constitutional Treaty for the European Union; and what guidance was issued to civil servants regarding their neutrality in previous referendums;
	(4)  what regulations under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 govern the role of the civil service prior to and during referendum campaigns;
	(5)  if he will make a statement on the role of the civil service in the proposed referendum on the Constitutional Treaty for the European Union;
	(6)  if he will make a statement on the role of the Government Information and Communication Service prior to and during the proposed referendum on the Constitutional Treaty for the European Union;
	(7)  if he will make a statement on the role of special advisers prior to and during the proposed referendum on the Constitutional Treaty for the European Union.

David Miliband: Guidance to civil servants, including special advisers and members of the Government Information and Communication Service, on their conduct during the referendum on the Treaty establishing a Constitution for the EU, and the period leading up to it, will be issued in due course. It will be made public. In addition Section 125 of the provisions of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 will apply.
	The most recent example of guidance issued to civil servants on their conduct during referendums is that issued for the referendum on a regional assembly for the North East (available in the Library of the House and on the Cabinet Office website at http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/propriety_and ethics/publications/pdf/nerarg.pdf).

Freedom of Information

Julian Lewis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many departmental files have been destroyed in each of the past five years.

David Miliband: holding answer 8 December 2004
	Departmental files are retained and destroyed in line with policies set out by the National Archives. In accordance with its selection policies and disposal schedules, the Department has destroyed the following number of files in each of the last five years—1,731 (1999), 1,387 (2000), 2,982 (2001), 2,960 (2002), 3,728 (2003). In addition, it is estimated, that approximately 1,300 files each year were not selected for transfer to the National Archives and were therefore also destroyed.

Parliamentary Questions

Julian Lewis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he will reply to the question tabled on 3 December 2004, by the hon. Member for New Forest East, ref 203389, asking how many departmental files have been destroyed in each of the past five years.

David Miliband: holding answer 13 January 2005
	I have replied to the hon. Member today.

Video Conferencing Units

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many video conferencing units are installed in (a) her Department and (b) each agency of her Department; what percentage of offices have these facilities in each case; and what plans there are to increase the number.

David Miliband: 12 video conferencing units are available within Cabinet Office buildings (including three mobile units). In central London, 25 per cent. of the buildings occupied by the Department have video conferencing facilities, including the main buildings at 70 Whitehall and Admiralty Arch. There is another video conferencing unit at the Centre for Management and Policy Studies' Sunningdale Park site and another at the Emergency Planning College's site in Easingwold. The Government News Network offices make occasional use of the video conferencing facilities of the Government Offices in the Regions.
	There are existing plans to purchase one further mobile video conferencing unit. In addition, the Cabinet Office intends to review the existing provision of video conferencing facilities to identify whether further efficiencies can be gained from increasing usage.
	The Government Car and Despatch Agency has no video conferencing facilities.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Censuses

Mike Hancock: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the reasons were for the early release of those 19th-century decennial censuses for (a) England and Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland, which were released for public inspection before they were 100 years old.

Christopher Leslie: In England and Wales, 19th century census returns contain fewer details about individuals than those conducted in the 20th century. Censuses up to 1851 were made available in the early 20th century because they often constituted the only proof of age and therefore of entitlement to state pensions from 1908 onwards. All decennial census returns from 1861 onwards have been made generally available to the public after a period of 100 years.
	The taking of the decennial census in Scotland, provision of public access to the census in Scotland and freedom of information in Scotland are all devolved matters, but the Registrar-General for Scotland will be writing to the hon. Member shortly.
	The national archives of Ireland in Dublin has custody of surviving 19th century all-Ireland census records that have been released in accordance with decisions taken by the Government of the Republic of Ireland.

Censuses

Mike Hancock: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will publish the texts of the undertakings of confidentiality which were printed on the census documents for (a) 1911 and (b) 1921, for (i) England and Wales, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Northern Ireland.

Christopher Leslie: The information is as follows.
	(i) In England and Wales, the census form for 1911 included the following undertaking:
	"The contents of the schedule will be treated as confidential. Strict care will be taken that no information is disclosed with regard to individual persons. The returns are not to be used for proof of age, as in connection with old age pensions, or for any other purpose than the preparation of statistical tables".
	I am advised by the Registrar-General for England and Wales that the undertaking of confidentiality on the 1921 census form was 'strictly confidential'.
	(ii) The taking of the decennial census in Scotland and provision of public access to the records of the census in Scotland are devolved matters, but the Registrar-General for Scotland will be writing to the hon. Member shortly.
	(iii) All-Ireland census returns for 1911 are in the custody of the National Archives of Ireland in Dublin. The family return used for households included the following undertaking:
	The facts will be published in general abstracts only, and strict care will be taken that the returns are not used for the gratification of curiosity, or for any other object than that of rendering the Census as complete as possible.
	The census in Northern Ireland was next conducted in 1926. The following statement was printed on the householder's return:
	'All particulars given in this return will be regarded as strictly confidential and will be used only to prepare general census summaries'.

Constitutional Treaty

John Cryer: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs who will be entitled to vote in the proposed referendum on the Constitutional Treaty for the European Union.

Christopher Leslie: The final decision on the franchise will be a matter for Parliament to decide. The starting point, however, will be that those people eligible to vote in elections to the Westminster Parliament, as well as members of the House of Lords and the people of Gibraltar, will be eligible to vote. The Westminster franchise consists of British citizens resident in the UK either currently or at any point in the past fifteen years, Commonwealth citizens with leave to enter or remain in the UK, and citizens of the Republic of Ireland (with whom the UK has a reciprocal arrangement). All those in the categories must also be of voting age and not subject to any other legal incapacity to be eligible to vote.

Constitutional Treaty

John Cryer: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what powers the Electoral Commission will have regarding Government expenditure on the Constitutional Treaty for the European Union.

Christopher Leslie: None. It is not within the remit of the Electoral Commission to regulate Government expenditure on the Constitutional Treaty.

Constitutional Treaty

John Cryer: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  what regulations govern spending in the UK by (a) the European Commission, (b) the European Parliament and (c) European Union agencies regarding the Constitutional Treaty for the European Union prior to and during the proposed referendum on the Treaty;
	(2)  what spending limits will apply to campaigning on the Referendum on the EU Constitutional Treaty by agencies of the European Union prior to and during the proposed referendum.

Christopher Leslie: The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 would regulate spending during the referendum period by the European Commission, European Parliament and agencies of the European Union. They will be subject to a spending limit of £10,000 during that period.

Constitutional Treaty

John Cryer: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on the rules governing activities by (a) political parties, (b) trade unions, (c) businesses, (d) campaigning organisations, (e) the European Union and (f) the Government prior to and during the proposed referendum on the Constitutional Treaty for the European Union.

Christopher Leslie: The rules governing these organisations' activities are set out in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA). According to PPERA, political parties, trade unions, businesses, and campaigning organisations can register as permitted participants, and may apply for designated organisation status. Different rules apply whether an organisation is a permitted participant or a designated organisation.
	The European Union cannot be a permitted participant in the referendum, and so therefore can only spend up to £10,000 during the referendum period.
	Different rules apply to the Government's participation. Section 125 of PPERA restricts the publication of information relating to the referendum by the Government during the 28 days before the poll.

Constitutional Treaty

John Cryer: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what consultations the Department has undertaken with the (a) Electoral Commission and (b) other organisations regarding the Electoral Commission's powers to regulate spending during the proposed referendum on the Constitutional Treaty for the European Union.

Christopher Leslie: None. The powers to regulate spending in a national referendum are already set out in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.

Constitutional Treaty

John Cryer: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's plans for the referendum on the constitutional treaty for the European Union.

Christopher Leslie: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will be responsible for the Bill necessary to enable a referendum to be held. DCA have been assisting them in relation to matters concerning the holding of the referendum, and will continue to assist during the passage of the Bill and its implementation.

Constitutional Treaty

John Cryer: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what his estimate is of the cost of the referendum on the constitutional treaty for the European Union.

Christopher Leslie: No comparative figures are available as the only UK-wide referendum was held in 1975. We would expect the cost of running the referendum to be similar to the cost of a general election. The last general election cost approximately £80 million.

Court Computer Network

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps are being taken to ensure the safety of information transferred over the new computer network which links courts and other criminal justice agencies.

Christopher Leslie: The transfer of information between the courts and other criminal justice organisations takes place over secure private government networks using reliable messaging protocols based on international standards. The various systems send and receive messages constructed to support specific business processes. A system cannot be asked for information without prior agreement. My Department also uses its own secure networks for transfer between courts, which adhere to the same strict protocols and are regularly audited to ensure compliance to security standards.

Criminal Justice

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether the Lord Chancellor has discussed reform of the Criminal Justice System with the Secretary of State for Home Affairs since the latter's appointment.

Christopher Leslie: The Lord Chancellor and I have regular meetings with the Secretary of State for Home Affairs where reforms of the Criminal Justice System are discussed.

E-mails

Norman Baker: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps he takes to ensure that material of future historical importance is retained, in relation to the Government's e-mail deletion policy.

Christopher Leslie: Material of future historical importance, including e-mails, is appraised and selected for permanent preservation under the supervision and guidance of the National Archives (TNA) in accordance with well-established records management policies and procedures. In 2004 guidance issued by the Head of the Home Civil Service underlined the status of e-mails created or received by departments as
	"public records . . . subject to departmental records management policies and procedures".
	A copy of this guidance is available in the Library. In addition, TNA issued specific guidelines to departments on the development of an e-mail policy in 2004. These are available on its website at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/electronicrecords/advice/

Freedom of Information

Llew Smith: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what information he has collected on the (a) number and (b) nature of requests made across (i) Government, (ii) local government and (iii) non-departmental public bodies under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; and if he will make a statement on the operation of the Act to date.

Christopher Leslie: Parliament passed the Freedom of Information Act four years ago. Now, after a long transition period in which public authorities have had the full time and opportunity to prepare for this change, the Act has come fully into force.
	It is as yet very early days in the operation of access rights under the Freedom of Information Act. However, the Government is confident that, over time, there will be a real cultural change to one of openness and transparency in all public authorities.
	My Department is responsible for monitoring central Government requests, including NDPBs, by the criteria agreed by the Domestic Affairs Cabinet Committee. Monitoring information on requests received by FOI specialists within central Government will be collected and reported quarterly, the first statistical report being due in late spring 2005.
	Our current estimate, based on informal reports from Government Departments, is that 1,200 more complex requests were received by Freedom of Information practitioner's across central Government between 4 and 11 January 2005.

Freedom of Information

David Drew: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how the Department plans to monitor the number of requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; and how often, and where, it plans to publish information on the number of such requests to (a) Government departments and (b) other public agencies.

Christopher Leslie: My Department will monitor requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to core central Government Departments as defined in Schedule 1 of the Act. It includes all ministerial Departments, executive NDPBs and Executive Agencies but not the public bodies listed in Part VI of Schedule 1.
	We will monitor those requests which come to the attention of departmental FOI specialists. Monitoring information will be collected and reported quarterly, the first statistical report being due in late Spring of 2005 to be published on the DCA Freedom of Information website.
	In addition, DCA will publish a report on the first six months of the Act's operation in the Autumn of 2005 and an annual report in spring of 2006 and subsequent years. These reports will contain more detailed statistics and analysis of the operation of the Act in central Government, and will include figures for individual Government Departments, subject to the data being of sufficient quality.

IT (Disciplinary Procedures)

George Osborne: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many staff in his Department have (a) received official warnings and (b) faced disciplinary procedures following breaches of IT policy in each year since 1997.

Christopher Leslie: There have been 99 cases where staff have faced disciplinary procedures following breaches of IT Security Policy since 1997. The cases have been broken down by year in the following table.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997 0 
			 1998 5 
			 1999 7 
			 2000 5 
			 2001 11 
			 2002 15 
			 2003 4 
			 2004 52 
		
	
	I am unable to report on the number of official warnings for breaches of IT policy, as this information is not held centrally, and to obtain it will incur disproportionate cost.

New Court House, Lisburn

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what progress has been made in identifying a site for a new court house in Lisburn; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: holding answer 17 January 2005
	The Court Service intends to publicly advertise for potential development sites in the Lisburn area which would be suitable for the construction of a new courthouse.

Newspapers/Periodicals

George Osborne: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will list the (a) newspapers and (b) periodicals taken by his Department in each year since 1997; and how much the Department spent on each in each year.

David Lammy: The information requested is as follows.
	(a) An aggregated list of the newspapers taken by my Department since 1997 is as follows:
	Evening Standard
	Sun
	Mirror
	Star
	Daily Mail
	Express
	Telegraph
	Times
	Financial Times
	Independent
	Guardian
	Scotsman
	The Herald
	Sunday People
	Catholic Herald
	Catholic Times
	The Universe
	The Tablet
	(b) An aggregated list of the periodicals taken by my Department is as follows:
	Accountancy
	Architects Journal
	Australian Legal Monthly Digest
	Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin
	Barrister
	Bookseller
	Building
	Cambridge Law Journal
	Campaign
	Caterer and Hotelkeeper
	Child and Family Law Quarterly
	Choice
	Columbia Law Review
	Common Law World Review
	Company Lawyer
	Computers and Law
	Computer Weekly
	Construction Industry Law Letter
	Construction News
	Conveyancer and Property Lawyer
	Counsel
	Credit Today
	Criminal Law Week
	Current Law Week
	Design Week
	Digit
	Economist
	Estates Gazette
	Family Law
	Fire Safety Engineering
	House of Commons Daily Hansard
	House of Commons Weekly Information Bulletin
	House of Commons Fortnightly Index
	House of Lords Daily Hansard
	Housing Today
	Human Rights Case Digest
	Independent Lawyer
	Industrial Law Journal
	Innovations in Information
	Inside Housing Magazine
	Insolvency Law Practice Newsletter
	Insurance Law Monthly
	International Journal of Constitutional Law
	International Journal of Evidence and Proof
	International Journal of Law and Information Technology
	International Review of Law Computers and Technology
	Internet Newsletter for Lawyers
	Journal of Criminal Law
	Journal of Law and Society
	Journal of Legal History
	Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law
	Judicial Review
	Justice of the Peace
	Law and Contemporary Problems
	Law Society's Gazette
	Law Quarterly Review
	The Lawyer
	Legal Action
	Legal Week
	Litigation Funding
	Litigation Letter
	Lloyd's Maritime Law Newsletter
	Local Government Chronicle
	London Gazette
	Legal Studies
	The Magistrate
	Managing Information
	Marketing
	Media Lawyer
	Medical Litigation
	National Institute Economic Review
	Newspapers and Business
	New Media
	New Law Journal
	New Scientist
	New Statesman
	Oxford University Commonwealth Law Journal
	PC Magazine
	Personal and Medical Injuries Law Letter
	PR Week
	The Practical Lawyer
	Press Gazette
	Privacy Laws and Business UK and International Newsletters
	Project Manager Today
	Property Law Bulletin
	Public Magazine
	Public Law
	Rating and Valuation Reporter
	Revolution
	Rights of Way Law Review
	SCM
	Solicitors Journal
	The Spectator
	SPIN
	Statute Law Review
	Strategic Communication
	Property Law Journal
	Vine
	Welfare Rights Bulletin
	Young Minds Magazine
	The expenditure on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in each of the years since 1997 is as follows:
	
		£
		
			  Amount 
		
		
			 1997–98 60,200 
			 1998–99 61,700 
			 1999–2000 64,600 
			 2000–01 67,500 
			 2001–02 72,700 
			 2002–03 78,500 
			 2003–04 63,600

Pay Television Subscriptions

George Osborne: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many pay television subscriptions the Department had in each year since 1997; and what the cost was in each year.

David Lammy: The Department currently has four pay television subscriptions, at an annual cost of £1,580. Information for previous years is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Regulation

Ross Cranston: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps he has taken to implement the recommendations of the Better Regulation Task Force report, Better Routes to Redress (2004).

David Lammy: Some have already been implemented and work is under way on taking forward the remaining accepted recommendations. The Ministerial Steering Group and the Action Group are being established and an announcement will be made shortly.

Voter Turnout

David Drew: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member for Coventry, South (Mr. Cunningham) of 10 January 2005, Official Report, column 120W, on voter turnout, what discussions he has had with the Electoral Commission on enhancing voting procedures, including postal and internet voting, at the next general election.

Christopher Leslie: The Department has regular contact with the Electoral Commission about various electoral issues including postal voting and internet voting. There are no plans to change voting procedures at the next general election. There is no provision for internet voting under current rules.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefits Centralisation

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress is being made towards centralising benefits processing in Workington.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 17 January 2005
	The Secretary of State announced on 16 September 2004 plans to centralise benefit processing on 81 sites including Carlisle.
	On 14 December 2004, I met with my hon. Friend, the Member for Workington, to discuss the implications for benefit processing staff in Workington. Departmental officials have since visited West Cumbria and Carlisle and met with Public and Commercial Services (PCS) officials to respond to their suggestion for a second processing centre in Workington.
	The Department cannot justify a second long-term benefit processing centre in Cumbria and needs to take a firm decision so we can deliver the planned business improvements. We therefore confirm our original decision to centralise benefit processing in Carlisle. We will continue to work closely with staff and the PCS to manage the transition and redeployment of staff affected.

IT Projects

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list his Department's IT projects in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) amount spent, (b) purpose, (c) cost of over-run and (d) time of over-run.

Jane Kennedy: The Department for Work and Pensions was created in June 2001. The Department and its businesses currently have in excess of 100 individual projects which encompass information technology (IT) changes to a greater or lesser extent. The Department's major projects are those contained in its modernisation programme. For the most part, these projects embrace both IT and business change.
	The information in the table lists the Department's current major programmes and projects that include significant IT change, with information on their purpose, due end date, over-run status and spend to date.
	It should be noted that project details may alter as they pass through the project lifecycle and as the Department considers its wider plans as part of the normal spending review process.
	
		
			  Project  Purpose  Due end date Expenditure to date (£ million)  Over-run 
		
		
			 Customer Management System This system is an information gathering business process for working age income support jobseekers' allowance and incapacity benefit claims and changes of circumstances. It will allow information supplied by the customer to be gathered electronically by staff, improving efficiency and customer service. Staff will be able to check information supplied against that already held. March 2006 219 n/a 
			 Benefit Processing Replacement Programme The programme aims to deliver a core IT platform that provides a lasting foundation for modern flexible IT solutions in support of business priorities. October 2006 18 n/a 
			 New Tax Credits This project supports the implementation of new tax credits by the Inland Revenue by putting a tax credits service in place for DWP customers (principally through Jobcentre Plus) and ensuring that necessary amendments are made to DWP benefits. April 2005 114 n/a 
			 ISCS/JSA Modernisation Project Delivered initiatives that enhanced or augmented existing working age IT systems. These included the sharing of electronic data with disability living allowance, attendance Allowance and personal details computer systems. August 2004 17 Completed on time 
			 Digital Office Infrastructure DOI provided a modern IT infrastructure platform across the Department providing access for all staff to the internet and intranet and modern business software. June 2004 722 Completed on time 
			 Managing Core Systems Estate To improve the ways in which our core legacy systems are managed. March 2006 4 n/a 
			 Pensions Forecasting Programme To establish the new combined pension forecasting service and enhance and replace the existing individual pension forecasting IT system. April 2005 36 n/a 
			 Pensions Credit This project successfully introduced pension credit in October 2003. It delivered new IT functionality to existing DWP systems, and associated business products (e.g. training, staff guidance, customer notifications). October 2004 294 Completed on time 
			 Pensions Transformation Project The programme will transform the pension service, bringing together business and IT change in ways that improve customer service and deliver efficiencies. 2006 113 n/a 
			 Customer Information System This project will deliver a database of key citizen information to be shared across DWP. The database will complement information currently available in the Department's key customer information systems, i.e. personal details computer system and departmental central index, and become their replacement. February 2007 14 n/a 
			 Payment Modernisation Programme The payment modernisation programme aims to establish direct payment into a bank or building society account as the normal, method of payment for all customers. This includes those who wish to collect their money from the Post Office. December 2005 297 n/a 
			 Resource Management This programme will provide modernised HR, financial and procurement functions for DWP staff. It will introduce significant business process change, enabling Departmental resources to be managed more effectively. September 2006 70 n/a 
			 Debt Management The debt programme introduces a new organisational structure based on 10 Debt Centres and a Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) package to provide new Management Information Systems, combined with increased focus on the management and ultimately reduction of debt stock. April 2005 70 n/a 
		
	
	Note:
	Additionally the Department has a Private Finance Initiative contract for the provision of IT services to the Child Support Agency worth approximately £456 million over 10 years. The Department is working closely with EDS to stabilise the new Child Support IT system. A decision on timescales for migration and conversion of existing cases to new rules will be made by Ministers once they are confident that the system is fully stable. Meanwhile, the Department will continue to deduct a percentage of its monthly payments to EDS.

New Deal

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in the Leyton and Wanstead constituency have found work through new deal programmes since they were introduced.

Jane Kennedy: The new deal has been very successful in helping more than 1.2 million people into work including 1,960 in the Leyton and Wanstead constituency.
	Information on numbers helped into work by each new deal programme is in the table.
	
		Number of people who have found work through new deal programmes in the Leyton and Wanstead constituency
		
			 Programme People gaining a job 
		
		
			 New deal for young people 970 
			 New deal 25 plus 520 
			 New deal for lone parents 380 
			 New deal 50 plus 90 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. All data is to September 2004, except for new deal 50 plus which is to March 2003.
	2. New deal for disabled people and new deal for partners is not available at parliamentary constituency level.
	3. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	New Deal Evaluation Database, DWP Information and Analysis Directorate

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the outcome has been of investigations undertaken by US authorities into deaths of two people detained by US authorities at Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan in December 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: A US Army Criminal Investigation Division investigation has recommended that charges be brought against 26 soldiers. We understand that the appropriate US military authorities are considering that recommendation.

China

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to European counterparts concerning an EU-wide demarche to the Government of China on the recent arrest of Pastor Zhang Rongliang; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 13 January 2005, Official Report, columns 634–35W.

Departmental Advertising

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in which Muslim newspapers the Department advertises; and what kinds of advertising the Department places in Muslim newspapers.

Douglas Alexander: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does not currently advertise in any specific Muslim newspapers. In the past we have placed recruitment advertisements in the Muslim News and Q News, but found that the response rate was disappointing and that we attracted more minority ethnic applications when advertising in the mainstream publications.
	Centre Point Group, who administer our recruitment campaigns, also place advertisements with Works for Me, the Voice and the Ethnic Media News (covering Eastern Eye, India Weekly, Asian Times, Caribbean Times, African Times and New Nation). We also have a range of diversity projects that run throughout the year to raise awareness of the FCO and opportunities to work with us.

Departmental Equipment

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many items of electrical equipment were used by his Department in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by (a) cost and (b) number of each type of item.

Bill Rammell: As at 31 March 2004, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's fixed asset register showed that it had the following classes of electrical equipment available for use:
	798 items of technical equipment with a net book value of approximately £9 million.
	570 items of office machinery with a net book value of approximately £2 million.
	151 items of communications equipment with a net book value of approximately £l million.
	These items may be single or grouped assets with an individual value of £3,000 or more. Collating a full record of electronic items of less than £3,000 in value held by the Department's global network of posts could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Diego Garcia

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements US military forces have for access to the British territory of Diego Garcia; and for how long these arrangements are programmed to continue.

Bill Rammell: Under the Exchange of Notes between the United Kingdom and United States concerning the Availability for Defence Purposes of the British Indian Ocean Territory of 30 December 1966 (Cmnd. 3231), the whole territory is to remain available to meet the possible defence needs of the two countries for an initial period of 50 years from 1966, and thereafter for a further period of 20 years unless either party has given prior notice to terminate it. A further Exchange of Notes concluded in 1976 (Cmnd. 6413) regulates the establishment and functioning of the facilities of the United States in Diego Garcia and related matters.

Diplomatic Representation (Middle East)

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the budget for diplomatic representation to countries in the Middle East is for the current financial year; and what the budgetary allocation is to each country.

Bill Rammell: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Middle East and North Africa Directorate's budget (administration, capital and programme) for diplomatic representation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries for the current financial year is £32,597,369. MENA countries and their individual budgets are:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Algiers 943,279 
			 Bahrain 989,071 
			 Egypt 3,199,879 
			 Iran 1,761,428 
			 Israel 2,217,467 
			 Palestinian Authority 1,897,598 
			 Jordan 1,913,518 
			 Kuwait 1,768,955 
			 Lebanon 1,487,953 
			 Libya 1,793,988 
			 Morocco 1,740,398 
			 Oman 1,475,214 
			 Qatar 942,087 
			 Saudi Arabia 3,155,757 
			 Syria 1,380,930 
			 Tunisia 966,972 
			 United Arab Emirates 4,046,709 
			 Yemen 916,166

International Labour Organisation

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what work his Department has undertaken with the International Labour Organisation to promote independent trade union representation among the people of Iraq.

Bill Rammell: The Transitional Administrative Law, which came into force on 28 June 2004, made provision for the right of all Iraqis to join unions. We understand that at least 12 national trade unions have already been set up and four open conferences have been held. The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions organised a successful fact-finding mission in early 2004, partly funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which looked at the state of trade unions in Baghdad, Basra and northern Iraq.
	The Government continues to support the active role the International Labour Organisation (ILO) is playing in Iraq and has contact with the ILO on Iraq as one of the agencies working as part of the International Reconstruction Fund for Iraq. An ILO sponsored conference on Jobs for the Future of Iraq took place in Amman in December 2004. Industrial relations were raised in the outstanding issues paper prepared for the conference, and a panel convened on industrial relations, tripartism and social dialogue. The conference concluded with an action plan on employment creation in Iraq. The implementing partner for these activities is the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs together with the ILO.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who will be entitled to vote in the Iraqi election on 30 January in Falluja; what the anticipated number on the electoral roll in that area is; what arrangements are in place for those who fled the recent fighting to vote; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Residents of Falluja will be able to vote at polling stations throughout the province of Al Anbar, and in designated centres in Salahadin province and West Baghdad. The number of eligible voters in Al Anbar province is estimated to be 574,000. The Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq are developing contingency plans to deal with those people displaced following the military action in Falluja. We understand that these arrangements will be publicised nearer to the elections.

Iraq

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what work his Department has undertaken in Iraq since 1 July 2004 to promote the benefits of trade union membership.

Bill Rammell: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office follows closely trade union issues in Iraq and supports the Department for International Development (DFID) activities in this area. Requests to support trade union activity in Iraq from UNISON and the International Centre for Trade Union Rights (ICTUR), in partnership with Iraqi organisations, have been approved under DFID's Civil Society Fund (CSF). In addition, a proposal from the Trades Union Congress has been received for consideration under the CSF.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Her Majesty's Government's policy is on the closure by the Iraqi interim Government of Al-Jazeera offices; whether his Department's representatives in Iraq have made representations on this issue at official meetings; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We have repeatedly made clear to the Iraqi interim Government the importance we attach to media freedom in Iraq and the need to strengthen the institutions established by the Coalition Provisional Authority to ensure this. We will continue to do so.

Israel

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he visited the wall now being built by the Israeli authorities on Palestinian land on his recent visit to Palestine; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary saw parts of the barrier being constructed around Jerusalem during his visit to Palestine on 25 November. He raised the issue of the barrier in his meeting with the Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom on 24 November. He expressed this Government's view that while Israel has a legitimate right to defend itself against terrorist attacks, construction of the barrier on occupied land is unlawful. Lasting security can only be delivered by a negotiated settlement, not by unilateral measures such as the barrier.

Madagascar

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the reasons are for the proposed closure of the British embassy in Madagascar; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: holding answer 17 January 2005
	As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary stated on 15 December 2004, Official Report, columns 137–40WS, we are making changes to our overseas network to reflect changing demands and challenges and to ensure the UK has a cost-effective and flexible network of overseas representation. This involves the closure of several diplomatic posts including the British embassy in Antananarivo.
	This is in no way a reflection on the current Government of Madagascar or on the quality of our bilateral relations. We will work with the Government of Madagascar to establish alternative forms of British representation.

Missing Children

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support and guidance his Department provides to parents or legal guardians who have travelled abroad to locate missing children aged 16 to 18-years-old in (a) Spain, (b) other EU countries and (c) non-EU countries.

Chris Mullin: Responsibility for locating children overseas lies with local police forces. Consular staff in overseas posts provide consular assistance to parents where they can, irrespective of the age of their children. Additionally, consular directorate in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London liaises closely with parents travelling overseas to locate children. They can provide advice about travel and accommodation, and, where necessary, details of English speaking lawyers. Consular staff often have contacts with local police and appropriate non-governmental organisations that they will use to assist British nationals overseas as appropriate.

Park Yang-Choi

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the North Korean Government concerning the safety of Park Yong-Choi, following his repatriation from China in October 2004.

Bill Rammell: We have raised Mr. Park's case with the North Korean authorities at official level, both in London and Pyongyang, seeking confirmation of his safety and well-being. We await their response.

Park Yang-Choi

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise with the Governments of China and North Korea the case of Mr. Park Yang-Choi, who has been forcibly repatriated from China to North Korea.

Bill Rammell: We have raised Mr. Park's case with the North Korean authorities, seeking confirmation of his safety and well-being, and we await their response. We also supported an EU demarche to the Chinese authorities on Mr. Park's case last year.

Parliamentary Answers

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is his Department's policy that all parliamentary written answers given by his Department should be displayed on the Department's website on the day of answer.

Jack Straw: Parliamentary written answers are already accessible on the day following the receipt of the answer by the hon. Member via Hansard and the UK Parliament website at www.parliament.uk.

UN Human Development Report

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the UN on the publication of the Third UN Human Development Report on the Arab World.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean discussed the Arab Human Development Reports and follow-up action with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in November last year. While drafting and publication of the reports is the responsibility of their Arab authors and the UNDP, the UK welcomes the reports' focus on the changes needed in the region to ensure sustainable political, economic and social development. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is supporting a number of UNDP programmes that help implement the recommendations contained in the reports.

Uzbekistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Uzbekistan about securing greater independence of the country's judicial system.

Bill Rammell: We regularly raise implementation of the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture's recommendations. Recommendation (d) calls on the Government to
	"take the necessary measures to establish and ensure the independence of the judiciary in the performance of their duties in conformity with international standards, notably the United Nations Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary".
	In 2004 the UK funded an Electronic Court Reporting Project implemented by the American Bar Association CEELI, a public service project supporting the independence of the judiciary. It was preceded by a study tour to the UK by Uzbek judges.
	We engaged in extensive trial monitoring during the terrorist trials of July to October 2004, which gave lawyers the confidence to put forward strong cases for their clients, gave the defendants the confidence to speak more openly and ensured that trials were conducted with a greater degree of openness and fairness. As a result, we believe that those on trial who were convicted received lower sentences than otherwise might have been expected.

Uzbekistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Uzbekistan about (a) permitting the registration of independent political parties and (b) participation by independent candidates in future parliamentary elections.

Bill Rammell: We were very disappointed that no opposition political parties had achieved registration in Uzbekistan for the parliamentary elections in December 2004.
	We lobbied the Uzbek authorities throughout 2004 on the registration of independent political parties. The UK, together with EU partners, met Foreign Minister Safayev on 11 November 2004 and urged progress towards international election standards and the registration of independents for more credible elections.
	On 29 December I made a statement on the recent elections in Uzbekistan which said
	"the fact that opposition groups were not allowed to register undermines the credibility of any claims that these were democratic elections. A democratic process, political pluralism and respect for the rule of law are essential for long-term stability and economic prosperity in Uzbekistan and will provide a more secure environment for the country and the region as a whole".
	We will continue to lobby the Uzbek authorities on the registration of independent political parties and the participation by independent candidates in future parliamentary elections.

Uzbekistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent of implementation by the Government of Uzbekistan of the recommendations by the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture.

Bill Rammell: Many of the recommendations remain to be addressed but we have seen some progress which has been mostly in terms of developing legislation.
	Recommendation B: Definition of Torture. The Supreme Court resolution 17 of December 2003 defined torture. The definition is that of the UN Convention Against Torture. The definition is not yet on the statute. The Interior Ministry (MVD) has told us they are prosecuting officials in accordance with the new definition anyway.
	Recommendation E: Independent investigation of all allegations of torture. This recommendation says all allegations should be independently investigated. The Uzbek authorities permitted independent investigation of the death in custody of Andrei Shelkavenko in May 2004 and in January 2005 have agreed to allow a US pathologist access in the investigation of the death in custody of Samandar Umarov. Torture was disproved in the Shelkavenko case. But there are still many more cases of alleged torture which are not yet being independently investigated.
	Recommendation O: Training for law enforcement agents regarding rights of those deprived of liberty. This has improved through projects implemented by the UN Development Programme and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe with MVD investigators and the penitentiary system.
	We recently received an update on activities implemented under the Uzbek National Action Plan on Torture through which Uzbekistan intends to carry out the recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur. We are looking at this latest update with our EU partners to consider how we can work with the Uzbek Government to achieve further progress.

Uzbekistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his counterparts in the European Union about the Partnership and Co-operation agreement with Uzbekistan and recent information on the country's record on human rights, democratisation and economic reform.

Bill Rammell: The Partnership and Co-operation agreement (PCA) states that respect for democracy and human rights and progress towards economic freedom constitute essential elements of the EU-Uzbekistan relationship. The EU Co-operation Council meets annually at ministerial level to supervise the implementation of the PCA and to examine any major issues arising within the framework of the agreement.
	The last Co-operation Council took place on 27 January 2004 during which the presidency and Commission stressed to the Uzbek delegation the importance of economic and political reform and positive developments on human rights. The next Co-operation Council under the Luxembourg presidency is scheduled for 1 February 2005.
	EU heads of mission meet regularly in Tashkent between themselves and with the Uzbek authorities to discuss how best to encourage the development of these themes. On 7 January 2005, at a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Ganiev, the Uzbek ambassador to Belgium, and the Uzbek ambassador designate to the EU and NATO, Vladimir Norov, the EU again highlighted the need for economic liberalisation and progress towards democracy and improved human rights.

Uzbekistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the appropriateness of TACIS funding for projects with the Uzbekistan Parliament.

Bill Rammell: The UK raised concerns about initial European Commission TACIS funding proposals for Uzbekistan for 2005–06. We considered that they did not take sufficiently into account the country's poor record in meeting EU objectives of respect for democratic principles and human rights. In response to these concerns the Commission made clear in its Indicative Programme that the TACIS Central Asia Programme would take into account democratic principles and human rights when determining the final budget allocations.

Uzbekistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the European Union about the scope for increased funding of projects in Uzbekistan which focus on (a) grass roots development, (b) poverty alleviation and (c) education.

Bill Rammell: We have supported the poverty reduction focus of recent TACIS action programmes for central Asia, especially track 3 of the programmes. This is a pilot poverty reduction scheme seeking to help the most vulnerable groups. It aims to link relief with rehabilitation and longer-term development. Particular attention is given to promoting civil society involvement. Substantial increases in funding for this component have been proposed. Track 2 also provides assistance to developing the education sector.

Uzbekistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Free Farmers Party in Uzbekistan is a registered political party.

Bill Rammell: Ozod Dehqonlar or the Free Farmers Party is not a registered party. It applied for registration to the Ministry of Justice in January 2004, but was refused a month later.

Uzbekistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what representations he has made to the Government of Uzbekistan about the rejection of the applications for registration by (a) the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan, (b) the Mazlum Human Rights Group, (c) Mothers Against the Death Penalty and Torture and (d) Democracy and Law;
	(2)  if he will urge the Government of Uzbekistan to revise Cabinet of Ministers internal decree No. 523 in order to decrease the level of control over the activities of international non-governmental organisations;
	(3)  if he will urge the Government of Uzbekistan to allow international non-governmental organisations and journalists to operate more freely in the country;
	(4)  if he will urge the Government of Uzbekistan to revise Cabinet of Ministers decree No. 56 and other internal documents to reduce the level of Government control over financial assistance for non-governmental organisations;
	(5)  if he will urge the Government of Uzbekistan to institute a simple and quick registration procedure for international and domestic non-governmental organisations.

Bill Rammell: Both bilaterally and with EU partners, we have regularly and repeatedly drawn our deep concern about the NGO climate in Uzbekistan to senior level attention within the Uzbek Government. In a letter to Uzbek Foreign Minister Safayev of November 2004, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary reminded him that
	"the activities of civil society groups are an essential part of a healthy democracy."
	The EU, supported by the UK, issued a letter in December 2004 to Foreign Minister Safayev, which raised the repeated refusal to register Mothers Against the Death Penalty and Torture despite international recognition for its leader Tamara Chikunova.
	We are aware of the constraints placed upon the NGO community in Uzbekistan by the Cabinet of Ministers' decree No. 56 and internal decree No.523. It has been and will continue to be a fundamental aspect of our policy towards Uzbekistan to press for a freer environment in which the local and international NGO communities and journalists can work.
	In February 2004 the EU addressed a letter to the Minister of Justice, Mr. Polvon-Zoda, expressing concern that the government requirements for the registration of NGOs would prevent organisations such as Human Rights Watch, International Crisis Group and the Institute for War and Peace reporting from working and publishing. We will continue to stress the importance of putting in place procedures to allow the registration of both domestic and international NGOs.

Uzbekistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what inquiries he has made about (a) the well-being and (b) the treatment in prison of Ruslan Sharipov in Uzbekistan.

Bill Rammell: The journalist and human rights activist Ruslan Sharipov was arrested on 26 May 2003 on suspicion of having committed homosexual acts. He was subsequently tried and sentenced to five and a half years in prison.
	The UK and others followed the case closely and believe that the serious allegations made against Ruslan Sharipov may have been politically motivated. Concerned by the charges and his possible treatment in prison, the EU, supported by the UK, raised the Sharipov case with Foreign Minister Safayev in January 2004.
	In early 2004 he was transferred to an open prison and had his sentence reduced from four to just over three years. In March he was released on probation but was effectively under house arrest. In June he was due to be sent to Bukhara for the continuation of his sentence. Instead, he absconded to Moscow where he spent several months. In October he was granted asylum by the US.

Uzbekistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what inquiries he has made about the whereabouts of A. Mahmudov, a member of Tanlov Erk's youth wing in Uzbekistan, who was arrested on the Kazakh border in October 2003.

Bill Rammell: We have recently learned that in addition to Mr Mahmudov, Tanlov followers Bakhodir Kambarov and Zakir Umarov have also been arrested and detained in Chirchik and that their relatives have subsequently been ordered to tell the Tanlov management (based abroad) to close the Tanlov website and cease Tanlov activity.
	We intend to raise all of these cases with the Uzbek authorities and will continue to stress the importance of political freedom.

Uzbekistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what inquiries he has made about the case of Moydijan Kurbanov, the head of Birlik in Jizzakh province, Uzbekistan, who was arrested in February 2004 and later released on remand.

Bill Rammell: The UK together with Germany and the Netherlands, has closely followed the case of Muhiddin Kurbanov, the Chairman of the Birlik Party for Jizzak Oblast and the Chairman of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan in Zarbdor District of Jizzak Oblast.
	Following his arrest a representative from our embassy in Tashkent and a German colleague met Kurbanov to examine the details of the case. We also spoke on his behalf with Deputy Prosecutor of Jizzak province Tuichi Khaitaliev, who intimated there would be a positive outcome to the trial.
	Kurbanov was sentenced on 12 April to three and a half years in prison. The UK, Germany and the Netherlands (as monitors) jointly wrote to Foreign Minister Safayev and the Prosecutor General regarding the case and Kurbanov's appeal, asking that Kurbanov not be detained prior to the appeal.
	Kurbanov was not detained and his three and a half year sentence was suspended on appeal.

Uzbekistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will urge the Government of Uzbekistan to conduct a review of law enforcement agencies in order to (a) decrease their numbers and (b) ensure political control over their activities.

Bill Rammell: It is for the Uzbek Government to decide on how it wishes to run its law enforcement agencies. The UK stands ready to offer advice and expertise should the Uzbek authorities ask. We have had discussions with the Uzbek law enforcement agencies on issues such as serious crime, organised crime, international terrorism, people trafficking and illicit drug trafficking. We are working with the Uzbek Government on a Memorandum of Understanding between our respective law enforcement agencies on these issues.

Yemen

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the reasons were for moving the UK's diplomatic representation in Aden to smaller premises.

Bill Rammell: I refer my hon. Friend to the written statement made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 15 December 2004, Official Report, columns 137–40WS, on Changes to the Overseas Network of Diplomatic Representation.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

British Energy

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with the Board of British Energy on bonuses likely to be paid to executives over the next six months; and if she will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: I and my officials meet with British Energy (BE) regularly to discuss a range of issues affecting the company. Executive remuneration is a matter for BE, its remuneration committee and shareholders. As was required prior to the restructuring, Government were consulted on the terms of the company's proposals for its long-term incentive plan. However, it is ultimately for the company to decide on the terms of its bonus structure. BE's shareholders had the opportunity to vote on the proposals as part of their vote on the restructuring and, in future years, will receive and vote on the company's directors' remuneration report.

Business Starts (Wales)

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new business start-ups there have been in Wales each year since 1996; and how many businesses in Wales have shut down or moved out of Wales in each of these years.

Nigel Griffiths: DTI figures based solely on VAT registrations and de-registrations for Wales are shown below for 1996 through to 2003. Data for 2004 will be available in Autumn 2005.
	
		Number VAT Registrations, De-registrations in Wales
		
			  VAT registrations VAT de-registrations 
		
		
			 1996 6,185 6,425 
			 1997 6,410 5,980 
			 1998 6,190 6,030 
			 1999 6,110 6,235 
			 2000 6,245 5,785 
			 2001 5,935 5,325 
			 2002 6,305 6,435 
			 2003 6,910 6,925 
		
	
	Source:
	Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1994–2003, Small Business Service, available from www.sbs.gov.uk/analvtical/statistics/vatstats.php
	VAT registrations do not capture all start-up activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which has risen in each year since 1997. Similarly, businesses that de-register will not necessarily have closed. Only 1.8 million out of 4 million enterprises were registered for VAT at the start of 2003.
	The numbers of businesses that have moved out of Wales since 1996 are not available.

Cars

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the effect has been on the UK retail car market of the European Commission Regulation No. 1400/2002, which exempts EC competition rules arrangements in the EU for the distribution of new cars and subsequent servicing; and if she will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Since the introduction of Commission Regulation 1400/2002, the UK new car retail market remains substantially the same in terms of how and by whom new cars are supplied to consumers. However, agreements between manufacturer and retailer, or car repair and service business, made under the regulations provide considerably more freedoms for business, for example, to retail more than one make of new car, or to trade only in cars and carry out no servicing. The full effects of these new freedoms will not be felt before October 2005, the date when car dealers can set up subsidiaries and warehouses within any territory within the EU. The new freedoms will take a considerable time to work through, depending as they do on non investment decisions by individual businesses, but the result should be greater freedom for car sales and aftermarket businesses to operate as they wish, more competition, and better choice for consumers.

Cars

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effect of the new EU Block Exemption regulations EU 1400/2002 having on car repair and servicing; and if she will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: There is more opportunity for business to compete in the market for repair and servicing new cars and more choice for consumers as to where they have their "within-warranty" new cars serviced as a result of the regulation. Any car repair or servicing business is free to become a part of any car manufacturer's or importer's approved repairer network, provided they meet the qualitative criteria set by the manufacturer. In addition, since the introduction of Commission Regulation 1400/2002 the Office of Fair Trading has ensured that manufacturers no longer include servicing ties to their approved repairer networks within the terms and conditions of new car warranties.

Cars

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effect of the Supply of New Cars Order 2000 on the price of new cars in the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: It is reported that, on average, car prices fell in real terms by 9 per cent. between June 1999 and June 2004. While some of this decrease might be attributable to the effect of the Order it is only one of many factors which reflect the final market price of new cars.

Cars

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether independent car repairers are being given access to technical information under European Commission Regulation No. 1400/2002; and if she will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I understand that all major car manufacturers and importers of new cars into the UK provide means of access to technical information to independent car repairers.

Christmas Cards

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what the cost of postage was for official Departmental Christmas cards in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004;
	(2)  what the cost of postage was for official Departmental Christmas cards in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004.

Patricia Hewitt: Records for 2003 and 2004 do not show how many cards were included in other correspondence and the total postage cost cannot therefore be calculated.

Departmental Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for her Department in each of the last two years.

Patricia Hewitt: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given him by the Minister at the Cabinet Office on 10 January 2005, Official Report, columns 85–86W.

Employment Status Review

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects to publish a response to the review of employment status in relation to statutory employment rights.

Gerry Sutcliffe: We hope to publish a Government response to the Employment Status Review this year.

Equal Pay

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when her target for 35 per cent. of large organisations to have completed a pay review by 2006 in connection with equal pay was set; what her estimate is of the percentage of large organisations which had undertaken or commenced such reviews by the end of 2004; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: The target was agreed as part of the 2002 Spending Review.
	The EOC's report "Monitoring Progress on Equal Pay Reviews" in spring 2004, showed that by November 2003, 15 per cent. of large employers had carried out an EPR, 10 per cent. were in the process of conducting one, and a further 26 per cent. were planning to do one. If those employers planning to carry out an EPR actually do so, it will mean that around 45 per cent. of large employers should either have completed an EPR, or be in the process of conducting one, by the end of 2004. These findings suggest that our target for 35 per cent. of large organisations to have done an EPR by 2006 will be achieved.
	There is now a toughened target of 45 per cent. of large organisations to have undertaken pay reviews by April 2008, which was agreed as part of the 2004 Spending Review.

Iraq (Reconstruction Contracts)

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the contracts won by UK firms since March 2003 for the reconstruction of Iraq, indicating the value of the contract in each case.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 13 January 2005
	British companies are not obliged to give details of contracts won and there is no central organisation that publishes such information. We estimate that, to date, British companies are involved in contracts for reconstruction and other work in Iraq to the value of around US$2.6 billion. British companies are active in the power, water, banking, ports, construction, telecoms, security, legal services and consultancy sectors.

Lie Detectors

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what advice has been given to Ministers in her Department on the use of lie detectors in assessing coal health compensation claims; and if she will place a copy of such advice in the Library;
	(2)  whether lie detectors for possible use in assessing coal health compensation claims have been tested on Ministers.
	(3)  what assessment she has made of the merits of using (a) random sampling and (b) volunteer sampling as part of use of lie detectors in coal health compensation claims;
	(4)  whether her Department has plans to use lie detectors in coalminers' compensation claims.

Nigel Griffiths: I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave the hon. Member for Barnsley and Penistone on 10 January 2005, Official Report, column 145W.

Mail Preference Service

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what forms of redress are open to an individual who expresses a preference under the mail preference service but then receives junk mail addressed to the householder.

Gerry Sutcliffe: If an individual is receiving unsolicited mailings despite their registration with the mailing preference service (MPS) they can raise the matter with MPS complaint handling service who will investigate the matter with the company concerned. If the mailing was a breach of the British Codes of Advertising and Sales Promotion then they will pass the complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority for action.

National Institute for Medical Research

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the reasons are for the closure of the National Institute for Medical Research; and what her assessment is of the implications for the development of malaria vaccines in the UK.

Patricia Hewitt: There are no plans to close the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR). The Medical Research Council is considering options presented by the NIMR Task Force which was set up to consider the future of NIMR in the context of continuing to support the best basic and translational research. At present, there are no specific implications for the support of research into malaria.

National Minimum Wage

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessments she has made of the effects of the national minimum wage on wage rates in the Greater London area.

Gerry Sutcliffe: We have asked the Low Pay Commission to consider all aspects of the minimum wage and expect to receive their 2005 report next month.

Pay Television Subscriptions

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many pay television subscriptions the Department had in each year since 1997; and what the cost was in each year.

Patricia Hewitt: This information is not centrally recorded and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Post Office

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether contracts for Post Office Counters to be transferred to private companies can be agreed before the public consultation is completed.

Gerry Sutcliffe: This is a commercial matter that falls within the day-today responsibility of Post Office Ltd. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Post Office

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what appeal mechanism exists once the Post Office has made a decision to close a post office branch.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Consultation and decisions on proposed post office closures are an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. and are considered in accordance with the 'Code of Practice on Post Office Closures and Relocations' agreed by Post Office Ltd. and Postwatch.
	Post Office Ltd. and Postwatch have agreed an 'escalation' procedure for handling closure proposals under the urban network reinvention programme where Postwatch strongly oppose a closure. Cases are escalated for consideration at senior levels up to and including the Chief Executive of Post Office Ltd. and the Chairman of Postwatch.

Post Office

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices have closed in Wales in each year from 1996 to 2004.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I am advised by Post Office Ltd that data on post office closures is not available in the form requested. However it has produced quarterly statistics on post office closures by Government region/country since March 2000 and the net closure figures for Wales are:
	
		
			 Year to end March Number 
		
		
			 2001 68 
			 2002 26 
			 2003 18 
			 2004 73 
			 2005(24) 45 
		
	
	(24) First quarter only.

Renewable Obligation Certificates

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to revise renewable obligation certificates to distinguish between low, high and premium value renewables.

Patricia Hewitt: The on-going Renewables Obligation Review does not anticipate bringing forward such a change as the Government remains of the view that the principal purpose of the Obligation should be to stimulate investment in the more economic forms of renewables generation so that our renewables target may be achieved at least cost. The Government's approach is to bolster the support from the Obligation with capital grants for those technologies further from market.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  whether departmental special advisers have been responsible for authorising instances of departmental spending since May 1997;
	(2)  whether departmental special advisers have given instructions to permanent civil servants without the explicit authorisation of Ministers since May 1997.

Patricia Hewitt: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given him by the Minister at the Cabinet Office, Official Report, column 1258–59W.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions between 31 March 2002 and 31 March 2003 her special advisers travelled abroad in an official capacity; what places were visited; and how much each visit cost.

Patricia Hewitt: Between 31 March 2002 and 31 March 2003, special advisers in the Department of Trade and Industry have travelled abroad on official business on five occasions, (to New York, Washington, and Brussels) at an average cost to the Department of £498 per trip.
	All travel by special advisers is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether departmental special advisers have written to external (a) bodies and (b) individuals in their official capacity since May 1997.

Patricia Hewitt: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given him by the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 14 December 2004, Official Report, column 1004W.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether departmental special advisers have made appearances before parliamentary Select Committees in their official capacity since May 1997.

Patricia Hewitt: None have done so.